A Ukrainian received second place in an international artistic competition of prison art

On the day before Christmas by the Gregorian Calendar, the International Society of “Art and Prison” published the names of winners of the international competition “By the Eyes of Others.” We are glad to see among the winners the name of an author from Ukraine, Diana Kamlyuk, who was recognized by the judge of the competition and received a special prize. Her watercolor “Abyss of Opium,” which is characterized by the deep drama of the human soul and tormented by sin, took second place. Among the finalists was another Ukrainian by the name of Serhiy Hura with his sculpture “There is no end to the Cossack family,” informed Deacon Constantine Panteley, referent of the prison’s chaplaincy of the UGCC.  The selection on the national level for participation in the international competition in Berlin took place on August 19 in Kyiv during the exhibition under the patronage of the head of Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church His Beatitude Lubomyr. The traveling exhibition called “Transfiguration by the Lord’s Love” was organized by the UGCC with the assistance of the State Criminal-Executive Service of Ukraine in cooperation with the Art and Prison Society, the Berlin Magnificent Gallery, and the institute of social strategy (LAICHEN of und of BERLIN). Through the mediation of the social educate service of SCES (State Criminal Executive Service) of Ukraine, 148 works from 140 authors from the penitentiary institutions of all areas of Ukraine were submitted in the competition. Then the Ukrainian jury chose fifty works of our citizens to Berlin. These works can be seen on the web site: http://artandprison.de/cms0/de/index.php?s=0949&name=contributions_europe With the purpose to assist through art social understanding and communication with our citizens who found themselves in prison, and also to acquaint the general public with the steps of reformation of the penitentiary system in the context of prison pastoral service of the church an exhibition was conducted already in five cities of Ukraine.

Information Department of the UGCC  

Background information “Art and Prison” is the international initiative of activists and admirers of art. Its purpose:  - to bring attention to life behind bars; - to induce artists worldwide to make their artistic contribution to improve the situation of human rights in the field of system of justice and implementation of punishments; - to support social projects with money obtained from the sale to give humanitarian help to imprisoned women and their families in Ukraine and in Colombia; - to serve as a forum for the organization for a dialog with people who found themselves on the margins and to support their integration into society.