THE BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

The Beast

Imprisonment leaves an indelible mark on anyone who experiences it, stripping away shreds of dignity, blurring the nuances of being and making true reintegration into society extremely difficult, if not impossible. A society that often continues to view every ex-prisoner, whether man or woman, as an unwelcome presence, a mistake… a beast.

This project does not aim to denounce prison conditions—a subject already widely debated—nor to question the necessity of imprisonment or the importance of rehabilitation programmes that seek to restore dignity to the human being, even before the prisoner. 

The Beauty

On the contrary, the aim of the project stands in stark contrast to today’s prevailing social narrative: it seeks to show how men and women strive daily to uphold and cherish the human essence, offering a real chance of redemption or, at the very least, alleviating the hardships of life behind bars. 

Aims of the project

It will alternate between the prisoners, with their stories and their truths, the institutions—represented by prison guards, wardens and staff—and those external organisations which, solely through the voluntary work and donations of individual citizens, provide support and practical help through activities carried out both inside and outside prisons.  All this while promoting a narrative that goes beyond prejudices and stereotypes, without descending into denunciation or criticism. 

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The black-and-white images will be created using techniques that respect privacy, such as long exposure, to preserve the anonymity of those who wish not to be recognisable. Where possible, individual interviews with both prisoners and staff will be included.