Against Punishment

Our Against Punishment programme was launched in October 2022 as part of our Black Heritage London series. 

We invited young Black Londoners and Languid Hands – an artistic and curatorial duo – to join a six-month programme inspired by our Executions exhibition which ran between October 2022 – April 2023 at London Museum Docklands. The successful applicants were Amber, Akhera, Baby Blue and Makella Ama.

The group took part in a series of sessions hosted by Languid Hands. Through text, film and group discussion, they explored prison abolition and the concept of carcerality, which encompasses anything related to incarceration, imprisonment and other forms of institutional punishment. Speakers attended some of these sessions, including therapist/writer Foluke Taylor and researcher/activist Dr Gail Lewis.

The group then created their own publication, contributing their own writings and deciding on its design. Toil: unearthing abolition was launched in March 2023 at an event hosted by 198 Contemporary Arts & Learning, which included workshops and readings.

Proceeds from sales are donated to 4Front Project – a youth empowerment organisation on a mission to serve young people who have experienced trauma, violence and racial injustice.