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The catalyst for one of the biggest art exhibitions I’ve been involved with was a letter to Paper Chained. One of my regular contributors, Khalil, asked me if I could write about the ongoing situation in Palestine for an upcoming issue.
However, as Paper Chained is a magazine aimed at prisoners, we only write about issues relating to prison and the criminal legal system. The letter, however, got me thinking about what it must be like being a Palestinian in an Israeli prison.
I put out a lot of feelers, and eventually I found a former prisoner willing to speak about it; you can read that interview in issue 16 of Paper Chained. That person, Mohannad Al Azzeh, told an inspiring story about how he turned to art during his period of incarceration, even though Palestinians are not allowed to make art in Israeli prisons. Most of his art was found and destroyed by guards, however, some of it was smuggled out, and Mohannad also turned to art again following his release, as a form of art therapy to help address his PTSD from imprisonment.
Knowing what an incredibly powerful story he had – not to mention unique artworks – after the interview I asked Mohannad if he would be interested in having art exhibited in Australia.
That exhibition was launched on November 22nd by Senator David Shoebridge to a packed crowd. ARIA-Award winning rapper Dobby performed at the opening while people were able to see Mohannad’s original art made while at Ofer Prison in the West Bank, the drawings he made as art therapy, and the paintings he created about his imprisonment specifically for the show.
Visions Through the Eyes of a Palestinian Prisoner ran from November 20-30 at The Creator Incubator in Newcastle. The exhibition will tour to its second and final location at Sydney Street Gallery in Marrickville from April 14-20, 2026.
The catalyst for one of the biggest art exhibitions I’ve been involved with was a letter to Paper Chained. One of my regular contributors, Khalil, asked me if I could write about the ongoing situation in Palestine for an upcoming issue.
However, as Paper Chained is a magazine aimed at prisoners, we only write about issues relating to prison and the criminal legal system. The letter, however, got me thinking about what it must be like being a Palestinian in an Israeli prison.
I put out a lot of feelers, and eventually I found a former prisoner willing to speak about it; you can read that interview in issue 16 of Paper Chained. That person, Mohannad Al Azzeh, told an inspiring story about how he turned to art during his period of incarceration, even though Palestinians are not allowed to make art in Israeli prisons. Most of his art was found and destroyed by guards, however, some of it was smuggled out, and Mohannad also turned to art again following his release, as a form of art therapy to help address his PTSD from imprisonment.
Knowing what an incredibly powerful story he had – not to mention unique artworks – after the interview I asked Mohannad if he would be interested in having art exhibited in Australia.
That exhibition was launched on November 22nd by Senator David Shoebridge to a packed crowd. ARIA-Award winning rapper Dobby performed at the opening while people were able to see Mohannad’s original art made while at Ofer Prison in the West Bank, the drawings he made as art therapy, and the paintings he created about his imprisonment specifically for the show.
Visions Through the Eyes of a Palestinian Prisoner ran from November 20-30 at The Creator Incubator in Newcastle. The exhibition will tour to its second and final location at Sydney Street Gallery in Marrickville from April 14-20, 2026.
Stuck with free-to-air TV? Here are some great shows to help time fly by.
In Sydney in May 2024, Damien Linnane (editor of the prison magazine Paper Chained) held an exhibition of art by people in prison around the world. Linnane managed to obtain over 100 artworks from currently and formerly incarcerated people in eight different countries.
The genre is crime fiction, set in the Australian outback, in rural, sometimes insular communities where everyone seems to know everyone else. This is set in the outback NSW town of Cobb where a woman, a local school teacher, has been stoned to death.
Dream Scenario is a deliciously quirky film by Director, Kristoffer Borgli. The audience is taken on an unexpected journey which travails the terrain between the conscious and subconscious mind.
An overview of recent sporting events, including AFLW, motor racing, soccer and cricket.
It takes real courage to grab the mic and share your story, especially in front of fellow inmates and complete strangers. Bars Behind Bars is more than a music program at Risdon Prison; it’s a creative outlet that’s uncovering raw talent and powerful voices.
An overview of recent sporting events, including horse racing, motor racing, AFLW and cricket.
A collection of sports news from the past month, including Brisbane possibly being our new sporting capital, Aussie women finding lots of wins in Cricket and loutish crowd behaviour marring the Ryder Cup.
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Help us get About Time off the ground. All donations are tax deductible and will be vital in providing an essential resource for people in prison and their loved ones.
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