WALKING IN PARALLEL WORLDS

An exhibition highlights the differences between life inside and outside prison to reflect how society treats former inmates

- STORY: SUWITCHA CHAIYONG PHOTOS: VARUTH HIRUNYATHEB

After release from prison, many former inmates face negative public perception. As a result, it is difficult for them to start over.

Even if they want to leave their prison life behind, they find that after becoming free, their minds are held captive by shadows of the past.

Hence, the Research Institute for Creative Economy of Bangkok University teamed up with MunMun Art Destination (MMAD) at Seacon Square Srinakarin to organise the exhibition “Luean-Jam” (“Forget-Remember”). The exhibition aims to reflect the values of human beings by presenting the daily lives of two groups of people living in parallel worlds — one living outside prison and the other living behind bars.

Naris Wuthisakont, special event manager with Seacon Development, explained that he had an interest in creating an exhibition related to prisons. Naris met Rittirong Chutaprut-tikorn, a former dean of the School of Architecture, Bangkok University who works with the Thailand Institute of Justice (TIJ), and created Tang Ton Dee (Restart Academy) to prepare former inmates for reentry into society. Naris learned that most former inmates encounter difficulties after they are released back into society because they are labelled as ex-convicts.

“This exhibition does not aim to sympathise with former inmates or to change people’s negative perception towards them to be positive. The exhibition aims to reflect on the values of human beings. There are various reasons why people are put behind bars. After they have already gone through punishment, how should society treat them? The exhibition presents basic human needs — consumption, waste elimination, sexual activity and sleep,” explained Naris.

The exhibition is divided into seven zones: Transitional Entry, Bedroom, Dining Room, Bathroom, Fantasy, Single Cell and Rest Of The World.