In a white room with high bars acting as a transparent wall, a warden stood watching as a group of men started picking up their brush. The men tentatively dabbed it in watercolour paint. Soon, everyone was making a mess on both the paper and the floor.
Inmates trying out different techniques. In a
Anake* was among almost 40 inmates in that art class held inside the Medical Correctional Institution (MCI) — a place where prisoners are treated and recuperate from their sickness, both physical and psychological. Anake was painting a picture of a lighthouse overlooking a beach.
"I've been to class for many times now. I've always wanted to paint but I forgot," he said.
Anake has been serving time for almost three years. Due to asthma and gastric reflux, he now resides at the MCI, and started attending art class in the new year. The class runs twice a month, on every other Tuesday from 9am-12pm.
"The class is great. I'm always looking forward to Tuesdays. Sometimes, when the teacher is busy and can't come, I feel really sad. I wish they could come every week. This activity helps relieve stress, too." While Anake puts finishing touches to his painting, Chan* — another inmate — is ready to submit his handiwork, a picture of a boat.
"I have a son. I come here to see the techniques and how they do things. When I go out, I want to teach that to my son," said Chan. "My son is in Grade 3. He is waiting for daddy to come home and teach him how to paint."
Chan still has more than a year to go on his sentence and is looking forward to his release date. Like Anake, the art class is his favourite hobby within the compound surrounded by barb wires.
"I like listening to the instructor. It is fun, and helps take my mind off the past," said Chan.
Artist Montri Samchimchom demonstrates painting techniques to the class.
The art programme in the MCI has been active for almost a year. It is organised by the Puen Lung Kumpaeng (Friends Behind The Wall) volunteer group, led by freelance documentary writer Orasom Suddhisakorn, and is made up of friends and colleagues.
"The sick and elderly in prison are being neglected. This is a place that everyone mostly ignores and takes for granted. I really feel pity towards them. They are truly underprivileged," said Orasom.
Sickness and loss of freedom can induce stress for prisoners. As Orasom believes that art can help rehabilitate and improve a prisoner's mentality, she invited Montri Samchimchom — an artist she used to take painting lessons from — as class instructor.
"I was quite surprised when Orasom first approached me about this," said Montri. "I didn't want to come at first. We always see this image of the inmates in films, novels and soap operas. And that's how we remember and know about them. They are scary.
"In a place like this, and with people like these, initial prejudice took over. But after I started teaching them, my thoughts began to change. And it's not like how they're being represented in the media, as well. We talk, and we get to learn about each other. I learn from them, too, a lot," said the artist.
Montri starts his class by demonstrating a few painting techniques. As the length that each inmate spends at the MCI varies due to the severity of their sickness, he only has a few regular students. He distributes papers, brushes and paints so the inmates can let their imagination run wild using them.
From the artworks, it is clear that the class was a first for many. Some works came with a bright Sun at the corner, and two half-circles and a line that formed into a flying bird — just like how a child would draw it.
Works are put on display at the end of the class.
After two hours, Montri tells the class to sign their paintings before putting them all on the board.
"Art is beneficial," said Montri, "It doesn't choose the learners' class and status. No matter if you're rich or live behind bars, when you engage in artistic activities, you're happy all the same."
"Art can help prisoners by improving their psychological well-being," said Dr Weerakit Harnpariphan, director of MCI. "It is one alternative method in rehabilitating the inmates."
However, not every inmate can join the class. While their sentence is irrelevant, their behaviour is what determines their eligibility to attend.
"Anyone who's still dangerous and violent will undergo rehab first before coming to arts. Those with psychological disorders have to be healed before they can join," said Dr Weerakit.
The MCI helps in supplying meals and fees for the instructors, as well as occasional special meals for the inmates. The rest, Orasom and her friends pay out of their personal funds.
Many would question why the project is necessary. Why are Orasom and her group so determined to help those who have committed a crime? The author replies that it is because of her love for Lord Buddha.
"We are Buddhists, and Lord Buddha offers love and compassion to all lives — humans and animals alike," said Orasom. "In a place of suffering, if there's anything we can do to help, we must. These people are being neglected by society. People believe the inmates are bad. But I view that everyone is made up of good and bad in them. Some of them only ended up here because of a wrong choice they made."
Aside from her work with the MCI, Orasom also travels to the women's correction centre in Nakhon Ratchasima every month. There, she and her group offer art classes and film sessions to the sick and elderly within the compound. She recently showed an Italian classic, Cinema Paradiso, to the inmates. It is one of her goals to help them find inner peace.
"If they are in misery, and if we could help in taking that away, they could see their own self-worth and value, and see the value of other people's lives as well. In the end, we'll have a safer community."
"There is no one who has never done anything wrong," she added. "These people may have committed an offence, but they can also start anew. We can choose to give them a chance."
* Names have been changed.
