free translation >< свободный перевод >< vapaa käännös

enfiru

Free Translation is a multi-disciplinary project showcasing international works by currently and formerly incarcerated people as well as anyone affected by imprisonment. What you are experiencing is the online version of the Free Translation exhibition. In this project we use translation techniques as a means of creatively interpreting works of art and word. This means that we interpret the meaning of the works and create new works of art based on the translations. This can be a translation into another language or another medium. For example, a poem can be manifested into a photograph and a drawing can be written as a letter. In this way, we make new works of art and literature, and get closer to understanding ourselves and each other as we open dialogue.

The Online Gallery

On the online gallery under each picture there is the possibility for you to interpret or comment on that piece. It can be in text, visual, or video format.

Your translations and interpretations inspire more thoughts, feelings, and perspectives to be shared and to be sparked.

How to translate:

+ Select an artwork from the online gallery that speaks to you.

+ Look at it carefully and read it. What is this artwork trying to communicate to you?

+ Using creative means available to you such as pen, paper, recycled materials or your mobile phone camera/word processor create a response to the work. What feelings and thoughts does it inspire in you? How does that feeling translate into a color or a shape, for example?

+ In addition or as an alternative, feel free to translate the work into another language.

Email your translation to info(at)prisonspace.org. Include the title of the piece, date, materials, and author, if you would like these to be posted along with your artwork. You can directly upload your own response/translation to the artwork at the bottom of the artwork where it says ‘Add your interpretation’.

Visitors of the website, art exhibitions and workshops we hold will see your creative response. We always will try to make sure the responses are seen by their authors.

Open Call for Source Texts

We invite folks affected by incarceration to submit a work in any means of creative expression, be it a drawing, a photograph or a poem or any other technique that speaks to you. The open call is ongoing and open to all ages. The works submitted will appear online and in any future exhibitions in Finland and abroad.

This exhibition makes use of the translation process as we interact and create new artworks in response to the original artwork. Your work on view encourages the audience to prompt dialogue, inspire thoughts, and creatively activate the space. Your voice is heard and recognized.

You are welcome to submit a piece of work to be included in the Free Translation exhibition. Include the title of the piece, date, materials, and author, if you would like these to be posted along with your artwork

Your artistic contribution is very much appreciated. Works can be emailed to info(at)prisonspace.org or mailed to:

Free Translation
Pixelache
Kaasutehtaankatu 1
00580 Helsinki
Finland

Please note that the artist is responsible for posting the artworks to be included in the exhibition. By sending us your artworks you give consent to putting them on Prison Space and Translation is Dialogue websites, social media outlets, and including them in the exhibitions in public spaces and online. If for any reason, you wish to be anonymous, please state that clearly. We reserve a right to exhibit a selected number of works.

To keep up to date on Free Translation happenings, please check www.prisonspace.org, www.translationisdialogue.org and www.facebook.com/prisonspace

We hope to see you there!

Anastasia Artemeva & Arlene Tucker

enfiru

Free Translation is a continuously growing interactive space that exhibits art by people affected by incarceration. Please feel free to contact us at info(at)prisonspace.org.

Free Translation Sessions is a collaboration of two projects: Prison Outside and Translation is Dialogue (TID). We are based in Helsinki, Finland. Prison Outside focuses on the role of the arts in subjects of imprisonment, justice, and in the relationships between people in prisons and people outside. TID is an ongoing art curation that generates a new project every time it is presented. TID uses translation techniques to not only produce art, but also understand what is being communicated.

To keep up to date and learn more about our projects, please visit www.prisonspace.org, www.translationisdialogue.org and www.facebook.com/prisonspace.

Thank you and we look forward to seeing your artwork!

Gratefully,

Anastasia Artemeva & Arlene Tucker

close next prev
- ,

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sasha Skochilenko - Sasha Skochilenko, 2022

Interpretations

  • Free Translation says:

    “Flying even though wings are down”. Translation made in Joutsa, Finland, June 2022.

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sasha Skochilenko - Sasha,

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sasha Skochilenko - Sasha, 2022

Interpretations

  • Free Translation says:

    “See the abundance. Let go of fear” a translation made in Joutsa, Finland, june 2022

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Aleksandra Skochilenko - Sasha Skochilenko, 2022

Interpretations

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

KAJO - Lempeys,

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Tiina - Odotus, 10.5.22

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Anna - Fenix, 10.5.22

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Salvador Sani - Sideshow bob X Salvador, 10.5.22

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Marianne - Kaksi vanhaa puuta ja 8+1 taimea, 10.5.22

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sibelius - Freedom, 10.5.22

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Anastasia - What is outside, 10.5.22

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Gaia Del Negro - translation of Tomás: “Sugar Substitute”, 29.6.2020

Interpretations

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Niina - Kipu, 10.5.2022

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Eveliina - Elämän sävyt ja kerrokset, 10.5.2022

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Timoфei - Usko ja toivo rakkaudesta, 10.5.2022

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Gabriel Rosenstock & Masood Hussain - Flowers for Varavara Rao, 2020

Interpretations

  • Free Translation says:

    A Dublin-based poet Gabriel Rosenstock sends Srinagar-based artist Masood Hussain a poem in Irish and English, titled ‘Flowers for Varavara Rao’ – a tribute to the ailing 81-year-old poet-activist who has been imprisoned since 2018, arrested in the Elgar Parishad case.

    Hussain chose to make a short poetry film in response to the poem:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hW2uD6fFalI

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Tomás - Spatial Translation, 2020

Interpretations

  • Danai Anagnostou says:

    Transcription:

    Scale is inconsistent. Somehow I ended up drawing a pond in the middle of the room, probably that happened when Arlene dictated “sea green”

    In the middle of the pond you have the chairs that will not diffuse any toxic fumes in case of fire and then a fire avatar burning down from a large and disproportionate computer. Next to the computer there is a Janus phased small person with very prominent collar bones, listening to the loud sounds coming from the long tables. How is that relaxing to the loudspeaker that is found perpendicularly under another large computer on the far left of the picture?

    I5 feet further there is another human figure that I cannot recall who it was meant to represent. A bossy looking person stands behind the four TVs.

  • Danai Anagnostou says:

    Interpretation by Danai

  • Kate Auman says:

    Dots of people and objects sprawl across a cold space. Machines – smooth, desks – smooth, everything – smooth. Nothing to wrap oneself in. Exposure, inner space interrupted by shared space.

  • Utkarsh says:

    part 2

  • Utkarsh says:

    Part 1

  • Utkarsh says:

    *Drawing Interpretation*

    As I look longer at it, it appears to me that the person has an accident. The tables laid out appear to be a zebra-crossing and the hand reaches out to the cassette player (I don’t know why I drew that and the hair, maybe both add some sort of mysticism to me: the flow of long hair strands and the earphone wires). Since all of it appeared to be thoughts at the library I put that aura in there : radiating and thinking. Cell bars appear to be flyover pillars and the audience in front of the screen seems like overweight ants.

  • Jo says:

    Transcription:

    The lines + patterns + flows are everywhere- there is such a functionality to the way it all exists here. The objects hold space and speak- setting such a dense tone for the whole room. Sounds cut through and rupture, I can’t find a place to rest. Politics are intertwined with everything and make it hard for my body to breathe with ease. Things are happening all the time- it’s like the stage for a play.

    Bouncing, colliding, touching, wandering- hitting off the edges and continuing.

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Tomás - Where the Wild Things Are,

Interpretations

  • Gaia Del Negro says:

    I go to take a piece of tin foil from the last bar of dark chocolate in the fridge. Thomas talked about chocolate in prison and using tin foil to make art. Resource of hope. Small pleasure. Granted to whom? I drew the woman figure on the left of a cardboard with pastels starting from the head and hair, pink body, then added the foil like a flame on the right. Colours added in an arch shape, finally the arms reaching out to the flame. There is blue inside the body, the other colours are warm. Shopping bags won’t help- my woman has her arms out. Where is soul burning? Is voice coming from without, from gesture, connection? Imperfectly alive.

  • Helena says:

    “Elämää!”

    • Helena says:

      Translation of the translation:

      “Kuvaat kauniisti naista jota kukaan ei kuule. Valta on muilla kuin sinulla. Haluaisin kuvata sinulle kasva silmisenä, rahan maailmassa, jossa naisen oikeudet eivät toimi.”

      “Your portrayal of a woman that no one can hear is beautiful. Power lies with anyone but you. I would like to express what personal growth looks like, in a world dominated by money and where women’s rights don’t work.”

      Ваше изображение женщины, которую никто не может услышать, прекрасно. Сила принадлежит вам. Я хотела бы выразить, как выглядит личностный рост в мире, где господствуют деньги и где права женщин не соблюдаются.

      • Free Translation says:

        Tomás’ response to Helena:
        One of the problems with this type of power is that no one is left satisfied and everyone involved is ultimately harmed. I have been on the other side of the equation and have used my status awarded by gender as an justification to not hear women. Was I often better off than my female counterparts? Yes. But after the fact I would have be hard pressed to call my self happy with these interactions. To participate in this type of transactional power is to harm oneself as well as others.

        So how do I answer these issues? Is it as simple as not engaging? Is it even my place to try?

        I don’t know the answers but I can make art that expresses my own confusion and frustration. I can have conversations with people on the other side of the world even though I am in prison. And by asking these questions, a dialogue can be created and empathy hopefully achieved.

        Одна из проблем с таким типом власти заключается в том, что никто не остается доволен, а все вовлеченные в конечном итоге пострадали. Я был на другой стороне уравнения и использовал свой статус, присуждаемый по признаку пола, как оправдание, чтобы не слышать женщин. Я был часто лучше, чем мои коллеги-женщины? Да. Но после этого мне было бы трудно назвать себя довольным этими взаимодействиями. Участвовать в этом типе транзакционной власти – значит вредить себе и другим.

        Так как мне ответить на эти вопросы? Просто не вовлекаться? Имею ли я право попробовать найти ответы?

        Я не знаю ответа, но я могу делать искусство, которое выражает мое собственное замешательство и разочарование. Я могу разговаривать с людьми на другом конце света, хотя я в тюрьме. И, задавая эти вопросы, можно создать диалог и, надеюсь, найти эмпатию.

  • Joslyn says:

    Translation of “Where the Wild Things Are”

    • Joslyn says:

      Indirect translation: I drew the central figure in “Where the Wild Things Are” in the center of my page, leaving it simply outlined in black. I tried to leave it looking gentle and soft since this is why it stood out so much in the original. I drew the brown window overlapping the figure but leaving the sides open. Light orange lines come out from the bottom left corner and just into the figure. Similar but shorter lines in red orange come from the bottom right. Red lines come down from the top left corner, and purple from the top right.

      Косвенный перевод: я нарисовала центральную фигуру в «Where the Wild Things Are» в центре моей страницы, оставив ее просто обведенной черным. Я старалась, чтобы она выглядел нежно и мягко, потому что именно поэтому он так сильно выделялся в оригинале. Я нарисовал коричневое окно, перекрывающее фигуру, но оставила стороны открытыми. Светло-оранжевые линии выходят из нижнего левого угла прямо на фигуру. Аналогичные, но более короткие линии в красном оранжевом цвете идут снизу справа. Красные линии спускаются из верхнего левого угла, а фиолетовые – из верхнего правого.

      • Free Translation says:

        Tomás’ response to Joslyn:
        From of a rectangular scrap of cardboard, I cut out a wide window and a figure to its left. The figure is done in sharp angles but blunted into a smooth lines in some places. I then affixed the cut out figure so it overlaps with both the window and the space from which it came. A slice of triangular cardboard was wedged onto the figure to create the impression of long hair flowing over her left shoulder. The left side of the cardboard canvas has been cut into a strip and taped back on but at an angle. There is no color to the piece.

        Томас ответил Джослин:
        Из прямоугольного куска картона я вырезал широкое окно и фигурку слева от нее. Фигура выполнена под острыми углами, но местами притуплена к плавным линиям. Затем я прикрепил вырезанную фигуру так, чтобы она пересекалась как с окном, так и с пространством, из которого она вышла. Кусок треугольного картона был втиснут на фигуру, чтобы создать впечатление длинных волос, струящихся по ее левому плечу. Левая сторона картонной канвы была разрезана на полосу и наклеена обратно, но под углом. цвета нет.

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Tomás - Sugar Substitute,

Interpretations

  • Gaia Del Negro says:

    Indirect translation of Tomás, Sugar Substitute

    There are the eyes of the woman at the top left of a white page. Underneath I drew the shape of the shoulders, contracted and muscular, and where the clavicles converge I drew her mouth. The mouth is linked with the right arm by the word Sugar as if hanging between shoulder and mouth. The line of the left arm also shows the shape of the movement of the hand, leaning on the bottom with the word Cane. On top of the eyes the lines of the hair. Colours are red and blue.

    Косвенный перевод

    В левом верхнем углу белой страницы – глаза женщины. Внизу я нарисовала форму плеч, сжатых и мускулистых, и там, где сходятся ключицы, я нарисовал ее рот. Рот связан с правой рукой словом «Сахар», словно висит между плечом и ртом. Линия левой руки также показывает форму движения руки, опираясь на дно со словом Cane. На верхушках глаз линии волос. Цвета – красный и синий.

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Tomás - Desire,

Interpretations

  • Arlene says:

    “Collar bones”

    • Arlene says:

      Translation of the translation:

      “The sharpness of her frame and angles of her inner structure led the way for the lines on in my drawing. I just drew what I followed with my eye. One color at a time. The box of oil pastels, an extended rainbow, gave me choices to see where the next river would run. After a while I stopped looking and just let the lines, colors, and the play of neighboring cascades lead the way. Maybe the colorful abstraction I created was a hope I have for her. Maybe it’s what she wants for herself. Maybe it’s what she would like to see when she takes the blindfold off.”

  • Hanna-Leena says:

    .

    • Hanna-Leena says:

      Translation of my translation of “Desire”.

      The work is crumpled brown paper bent in a human form with bent arms. The head is covered torn brown paper.

      Interpretation of the work “Desire”
      I only want to sleep.

      Getting away from the world.

      I want to forget, forget, forget forget forgetforgetforget

      Please let me rest

      • Response from Tomás says:

        Sketched on a piece of cardboard is the back of a woman on her side. There is very little form to the figure, mostly negative space and light charcoal lines. Her head is propped up and she is looking and way from us. Above her, pressing down on her, is a large mass of very dark and loosely applied black pastel. Scribbled to the side, “In the dead of night, I struggle to wake.”

  • Anastasia says:

    Looking at..

    • Anastasia says:

      Anastasia: The description of my translation of “Desire”.
      Female curves. Body lines, hair lines. Two eyes closed. Another one eye open – an eye of a surveillance camera. Big shiny, glimmering, glimpsing, watching with desire, gazing.
      A list of words written in thick black marker, words in Russian and in English. Some words legible, some unreadable. I can make out: “more…beauty…eye…hands..”
      The page torn at the bottom, split.
      The colours are blue and pink and black, but cold, unlike the source painting.

      • Response from Tomás: says:

        Warmth comes from within
        in a world that is so cold.

        Dark blues, reds, and purples impose themselves around a central figure. She is a muddy yellow, something organic compared to the color around her. Her figure is slightly distorted, abstracted, without detail. Her hands, gentle, graceful, indistinct claws, reach up to her face. She appears to have no eyes, but perhaps they have yet to be added by the artist. Her mouth is red and quite vivid. She can speak.

        • Joslyn says:

          This is my translation of Tomas’ reply to Anastasia. I really liked how vividly he described his image, so I tried to show how I pictured his words.

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Tomás - Idol,

Interpretations

  • Sinikka says:

    “Nainen” (Woman)

    • Sinikka says:

      Translation of the translation:

      “I, a lofty arrogant, all-encompassing, radiant-halo adorned woman — I who can destroy and judge with my gaze.
      The running water swallows everything I want.”

      “Minä ylväs ylimielinen, kaiken hallitseva, sädekehän kehystämä nainen – minä, joka pystyn katseellani tuhoamaan ja tuomitsemaan.
      Virtaava vesi nielaisee kaiken haluamani.”

      • Free Translation says:

        Tomas’ response:
        Two of our daily meals are delivered to us in brown paper bags during the COVID-19 lockdown. Everyday we look with greedy desire for nurturing food. Pre-package baloney sandwiches and cheap cookies manufactured in India await us. On one of these bags, I painted a portrait of a women. Arrogant, perhaps, but conflicted by her emotions. She is uncomfortable. Isn’t she supposed to nurture, not judge? Surrounding her are little white flowers on branches from a tree. There is a juxtaposition between what is asked of her and what she feels and wants.

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Tomás - She was Real,

Interpretations

  • Yulia says:

    «Я смотрела на изображение девушки в« Она была настоящей ». Ее маленький каркас тела заставил меня задуматься о каждом маленьком существе на Земле, о жуках и, например, о шелковом черве и о том, как мы все важны в глазах Бога. Это напомнило мне песню, поэтому мой перевод – это песня ».

    Юля тогда играла на гитаре и пела песню на русском языке.

    “I was looking at the image of the girl in “She was real”. Her small body frame made me think of every small creature on Earth, bugs and for example a silkworm and how we are all important in God’s eyes. It reminded me of a song, so my translation is a song.”

    Yulia then played the guitar and sang a song in Russian language.

    • Free Translation says:

      Tomás’ response to Yulia’s translation:
      As I read your true words about the universal value we all share, I can’t help but be repulsed by the imagery of bugs. I have always hated them, I tell myself, even if God does not. Why do I feel this way, I ask myself in my room as I figure how to your respond to your translation. Suddenly, I am reminded of when, as a child, I was chased around the playground by a girl holding a dead bug. I had just asked her to be my girlfriend and she had just said no. I remember choosing to overreact about the bug, of running from her with hot tears on my cheek, and deciding to hate bugs. I don’t remember her name, or what she looked like, or really anything about her but I still hate bugs.

      Ответ Томаса на перевод Юлии:
      Когда я читаю ваши истинные слова об универсальной ценности, которую мы все разделяем, я не могу не отбиваться от образов ошибок. Я всегда ненавидел их, говорю я себе, даже если Бог этого не делает. Почему я так себя чувствую, я спрашиваю себя в своей комнате, когда я думаю, как ответить на ваш перевод. Внезапно мне вспоминается, когда в детстве меня на детская площадка за мной бегала девочка с мертвым жуком. Я только что попросил ее стать моей girlfriend, а она просто сказала “нет”. Я помню, как решил слишком остро отреагировать именно на жука, убежать от нее с горячими слезами на моей щеке и принять решение ненавидеть жуков. Я не помню ее имени, или как она выглядела, или вообще ничего о ней, но я все еще ненавижу жуков.

  • Kaija says:

    “(Tyttö) Punatukkainen tyttö”

    • Kaija says:

      Translation of the translation:

      “Attention was first drawn to the red hair that is at the center. The girl is wearing a black dress in which she wants to hide. She is insecure, standing on her lean legs insecurely. The gaze is empty, sad eyes. A serious and earnest mouth. Why is she sad? What has happened? I really like your work a lot.

      I drew red hair inside a black dress. Eyes, mouth, legs I separated and put them next to the dress in my drawing.”

      “Huomio kiinnityi ensimmäiseksi punaisiin hiuksiin, jotka ovat keskiössä. Tyttö on pukeutunut mustaan mekkoon, johon hän tahtoo piiloutua. Hän on epävarma, seisoo laihoilla jaloillaan epävarmasti. Katse on tyhjä, surulliset silmät. Totinen suu. Miksi hän on surullinen? Mitä on tapahtunut? Pidän teoksestasi todella paljon.

      Piirsin punaiset hiukset mustaan mekon sisään. Silmät, suu, jalat erotin mekon viereen piirroksessani.”

      • Free Translation says:

        Tomás’ response to Kaija:
        What great questions. Why is she so sad…

        “Look at that bitch. I’d f— her”, says the man behind me, unprompted, as I paint a portrait of a woman.
        “Naw, why’d you make her so ugly?” asks another man who just walked up.
        “Still f— her” smugly replies the first.
        Satisfied with their input on my painting, they wander off amicably.

        While in prison, separated from women and surrounded by other men, I have learned a lot about myself and the society that I came from. I wonder about the social roles that I have asked others to play and how they must have felt in them. I wonder why I never asked these questions before.

  • Emily Kombe says:

  • emily kombe says:

    I was drawn to this women’s arms. They are so small and so pale, in contrast to the dress, that you can barely see them. I decided to translate the arms a few times on top of each other.

    • Free Translation says:

      Tomás’response to Emily’s translation: “I responded to the focus of just her small, pale arms by drawing them reattached to a billowing dress. But this time, the dress was empty space, and the arms, while still small, were now bold and strong in red pastel.”

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Оксана Крутицкая (Oksana Krytickaya) - Загадка, Данное произведение искусства располагается напротив роддома,кто может расшифровать сие послание будущим мамам и папам - хожу мимо уже почти 30 лет и до сих пор не могу разгадать эту загадку... Riddle, This work of art is located opposite the maternity hospital. Can anybody decipher this message for expectant mothers and fathers - I’ve walked by for almost 30 years and still can’t solve this riddle...

Interpretations

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Оксана Крутицкая (Oksana Krytickaya) - The World Around Us,

Interpretations

  • Gaia Del Negro says:

    I was attracted by this poem that I could not read, with already a translation I could read, then I saw the statue of a woman with a child, by the same author Оксана Крутицкая (Oksana Krytickaya). So, my translation of the poem was influenced by the statue. And viceversa. I felt heavy and fluid at the same time while drawing the shape.I copied the words. Words worlds.

    • Free Translation says:

      Gaia Del Negro: Whilst watching the texts to translate I asked a question about this poem. I then was caught by the first prompt, the woman with baby statue. So my translation of the poem was influenced by that.
      As I drew the shape I felt smooth but burdened, heavy shoulders (I have been feeling tense all day). i wanted to connect my name with the poet’s. hers seems at the bottom, mine floats. Yet we are connected

  • Free Translation says:

    I am a magician! I created my world!
    The world is not at all like a rifle range!
    A world without weapons, a world without hunters!
    A world where animals do not need the slaughter!

    My house is on a rainbow, and the sky is my bed.
    Yes! In the morning, spring drops of spring wake me up!
    You may not believe me, I will not convince you
    And when the evening falls I softly light the stars!

    My world is real, my world is beautiful!
    The sun is always, sleep is safe!
    Roses bloom under the snow, the snow does not melt!
    Anything can happen in my world.

    People and animals – all as one!
    Everyone is his own master!
    Roses under the snow, as before, bloom!
    Come in, I’m waiting for you here !!!
    *

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Kirn - Future IDs, 2017-18

Interpretations

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

- Stan Bey – Future IDs, 2017-18,

Interpretations

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Letter from Natasha, 2019. Natasha is serving a sentence in a detention camp in Russia. She writes: … I’m currently working with a lawyer (I am entitled to one free of charge) to get a place to live. I grew up in an orphanage, and I am entitled to some money and an apartment. I have been fighting with “them” for the past 18 years. If I don’t get a place to live before I’m released, in September 2020, I will be homeless. My friends, if there is one who I can stay with once I’m realised, I will just die, as one of them takes drugs, and another drinks vodka. I don’t want to and I will not die this way. This is why I am asking, please help me, by sending me some warm clothes that I can wear on my realise day. The is an abandoned house I know, there isn’t much there just doors and windows, no electricity or a stove. But still, I’ll survive. Elena, with respect, I will need winter boots, size 37, a coat, a long one so it covers the knees, size 46. My height is 1m 63cm, a hat, mittens, warm socks and warm tights. If you happen to have clothes that are suitable for me, I would appreciate it very much. I’m very sorry to bother you. And I’m sorry if I’ve upset you in any way. Thank you for everything you have done, for the medicine you have sent. All the best to you, stay well! - A letter from Natasha / Письмо от Наташи,

Interpretations

  • Free Translation says:

    A reply created during Free Translation Session in Moscow in October 2019:

    Wishing you inner strength. You are wonderful and unique.

    Hello Natalia,

    Thank you for your honest and true letter. The difficult situation You found yourself in cannot be made easy (right now) but I would like to say to you:

    Regardless of your past and your present, your life still belongs to You. I have never met You, but I can say for sure that your heart if beautiful, You are strong. And now, after the year 2020 (you wrote about it) you will resolve your situation, You will not die, you will overcome your hardship.

    Thank you that You exist. 2019.

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This is an excerpt from a letter from Marina. Marina who is currently serving a sentence in a female detention camp in Russia. She writes: Dear Elena, I am writing to you and sending you kindness, warmth and a lot of best wishes. Fate has brought me to prison, because I’m too kind and naive. Once you find yourself locked up, you realise that there is no one out there who cares about you. My mom and dad died. I have a sister, but she has her own family, two small kids, and I just cannot, my conscience won’t allow me to ask her for help. There is nothing to say about my other relatives. When I was a free woman, when I was working - everybody needed me, and now - nobody. I’m very ashamed. Please help, I’m sorry, but I have none else to ask. All the best, wishing you a long life and a peaceful sky above your head. With deepest respect, Marina - A letter from Marina / Письмо от Марины, 2019

Interpretations

  • Free Translation says:

    Наталия: я выбрала письмо, пишет Марина из тюрьмы, веселых писем оттуда не бывает, и здесь подчеркнуто “мама с папой умерли”, как ей освобождаться, что ей надеть, ч то она будет есть – нарисовала самое практичное, а потом вспомнила, ч то обязательно нужна красота – дорисовала юбку и туфли на каблуках.

    Natalia: I chose a letter, Marina writes from prison, there is not happy letters from there, and in this one it is emphasized “mom and dad have died,” What will she do when she is released, what will she wear, what will she eat? I drew the painted the most practical items, and then remembered that we need some beauty, too – so I added the skirt and high heel shoes.

  • Free Translation says:

    A reply to Marina’s letter made during a Free Translation workshop in Moscow in October 2019.

    “Marina, take care of your self!”

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Оксана Крутицкая (Oksana Krytickaya) - Sky Небо #3, October 2019

Interpretations

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Оксана Крутицкая (Oksana Krytickaya) - Sky Небо #2, October 2019

Interpretations

  • Free Translation says:

    Wendy’s interpretation

    • Free Translation says:

      A translation of Wendy’s work by Oksana Krytickaya: “It’s all about light – light that we can search for and always find, both around and inside of us.”

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Оксана Крутицкая (Oksana Krytickaya) - Sky Небо #1, October 2019

Interpretations

  • Buildings as a source of protection or ? says:

    This is a translation of Jhenna El-Sawaf’s artwork. As I was following the lines, I started to think about the people living in the buildings. As we have been in quarantine for some time, are we ready to leave or caves?

  • Jhenna El-Sawaf says:

    Pen, acrylic paint

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Khalid Imran - Untitled, 14th November 2019

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Kari Vähä-Aho - Nimetön, translation of Todd Hollfelder’s Flower Truck Evil, September 2019

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Pablo the clown - Untitled, Translation of Todd Hollfelder’s Forgive Bug, September 24, 2019

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Gaylen Grandstaff "The Real Mishka" - Without Justice 2, Between July 18, 2017 - March 18, 2019

Interpretations

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Gaylen Grandstaff "The Real Mishka" - Without Justice 1, Between July 18, 2017 - March 18, 2019
Todd Hollfelder - Not for You, 2019

Interpretations

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Todd Hollfelder - Boom, 2019

Interpretations

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Todd Hollfelder - Forgive Bug, 2019

Interpretations

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Todd Hollfelder - Flower Truck Evil, 2019

Interpretations

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Juha Hilpas - Untitled, April, 2019
Arlene Tucker - Being here, April, 2019
Anastasia Trizna - Interpretation of Juha Hilpas’ Chrome Toilet 1, 2018, April, 2019

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Jyrki Heikkinen - Imagination is a gate and will is a threshold stone. Mielikuvitus on portti ja tahto on kynnyskivi., 2019

Interpretations

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Veli-Matti Lehikoinen - Prison Gardener, 2019

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Pedro Bericat - Letter from Spain/ Kirje Espanjasta, 2018

Interpretations

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Hämärän-ukko - Pässin sarvet, 2018

Interpretations

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Hämärän-ukko - Ruskan-Aikaa, 2018

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Hämärän-ukko - Sinulle, 2018

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Hämärän-ukko - Partakoski, 2018

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Translation made with Mikhail Agafonov’s group on his visit to correctional facility for young female offenders in Russia. Интерпретация, выполненная на мастер-классе Михаила Агафонова в девичьей воспитательной колонии в России. - Comic from Russia, 2019
Translation made with Mikhail Agafonov’s group on his visit to correctional facility for young female offenders in Russia. Интерпретация, выполненная на мастер-классе Михаила Агафонова в девичьей воспитательной колонии в России. - Words and pictures, 2019

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Translation made with Mikhail Agafonov’s group on his visit to correctional facility for young female offenders in Russia. Интерпретация, выполненная на мастер-классе Михаила Агафонова в девичьей воспитательной колонии в России. - Words and Image, 2019
Translation made with Mikhail Agafonov’s group on his visit to correctional facility for young female offenders in Russia. Интерпретация, выполненная на мастер-классе Михаила Агафонова в девичьей воспитательной колонии в России. - Words and Image, 2019

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Translation made with Mikhail Agafonov’s group on his visit to correctional facility for young female offenders in Russia. Интерпретация, выполненная на мастер-классе Михаила Агафонова в девичьей воспитательной колонии в России. - Words and Image, 2019

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Translation made with Mikhail Agafonov’s group on his visit to correctional facility for young female offenders in Russia. Интерпретация, выполненная на мастер-классе Михаила Агафонова в девичьей воспитательной колонии в России. - Words and Image, 2019

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Collages made together with young women in a correctional facility in Russia, in a workshop by Kseniya Vasilieva, Master's students in MSUPE. Мастер - класс Ксении Васильевой, магистранта МГППУ. Девичья воспитательная колония. - Collage, 2017

Interpretations

  • Anastasia says:

    Russian to English translation:
    ” Me
    I got out of prison
    * meeting my close ones
    * how I look
    * studies
    * work *family, children
    * get married beautifully”

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Collages made together with young women in a correctional facility in Russia, in a workshop by Kseniya Vasilieva, Master's students in MSUPE. Мастер - класс Ксении Васильевой, магистранта МГППУ. Девичья воспитательная колония. - Collage, 2017

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Collages made together with young women in a correctional facility in Russia, in a workshop by Kseniya Vasilieva, Master's students in MSUPE. Мастер - класс Ксении Васильевой, магистранта МГППУ. Девичья воспитательная колония. - Collage, 2017

Interpretations

  • Anastasia Artemeva says:

    Resources:
    1.My own power: being positive, organised, firm, confident.
    2. My family and friends.
    3.FAITH
    4. Girl with a strong personality. – This lady will not get pushed around!


    1. Mortgage (If you don’t pay, your apartment can be taken away)
    2. Loan (but you must pay it back on time)
    3. Personal savings
    4. Equipment (we have a sewing machine)
    5. Time (an opportunity to focus on your business)
    6. Sew at home
    7. Support from the government
    8. Internet

    Time changes our world

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Collages made together with young women in a correctional facility in Russia, in a workshop by Kseniya Vasilieva, Master's students in MSUPE. Мастер - класс Ксении Васильевой, магистранта МГППУ. Девичья воспитательная колония. - Collage, 2019

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Collages made together with young women in a correctional facility in Russia, in a workshop by Kseniya Vasilieva, Master's students in MSUPE. Мастер - класс Ксении Васильевой, магистранта МГППУ. Девичья воспитательная колония. - Collage, 2019

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Collages made together with young women in a correctional facility in Russia, in a workshop by Kseniya Vasilieva, Master's students in MSUPE. Мастер - класс Ксении Васильевой, магистранта МГППУ. Девичья воспитательная колония. - Collage, 2019

Interpretations

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Collages made together with young women in a correctional facility in Russia, in a workshop by Kseniya Vasilieva, Master's students in MSUPE. Мастер - класс Ксении Васильевой, магистранта МГППУ. Девичья воспитательная колония. - Collage, 2019

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Collages made together with young women in a correctional facility in Russia, in a workshop by Kseniya Vasilieva, Master's students in MSUPE. Мастер - класс Ксении Васильевой, магистранта МГППУ. Девичья воспитательная колония. - Collage, 2019

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Collages made together with young women in a correctional facility in Russia, in a workshop by Kseniya Vasilieva, Master's students in MSUPE. Мастер - класс Ксении Васильевой, магистранта МГППУ. Девичья воспитательная колония. - Collage, 2019

Interpretations

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Collages made together with young women in a correctional facility in Russia, in a workshop by Kseniya Vasilieva, Master's students in MSUPE. Мастер - класс Ксении Васильевой, магистранта МГППУ. Девичья воспитательная колония. - Collage, 2019

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Juha Hilpas - Chrome Toilet 2, 2018

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Juha Hilpas - Chrome Toilet 1, 2018

Interpretations

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Anonymous - Untitled,

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Anonymous - Chasing September Dreams,

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Michael MacDomhnaill - Wavesweeper,

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Michael A. McDonald - Spring at the Opera House,

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Michael MacDomhnaill - Eamhlain Macha,

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Anonymous - Untitled, Thinking of You,

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

TBen - God go with you,

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Anonymous - The Museum of Misery,

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Michael A. McDonald - Night Fishing,

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Michael A. McDonald - Dolphin,

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Let it Out in Moscow - Untitled, 10.2018

Interpretations

  • Arlene Tucker says:

    Translation made with Mikhail Agafonov’s group on his visit to correctional facility for young female offenders in Russia. Интерпретация, выполненная на мастер-классе Михаила Агафонова в девичьей воспитательной колонии в России.

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Richmond City Justice Center students - Mixed media, 2015

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Richmond City Justice Center students - Mixed media, 2015

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Richmond City Justice Center students - Letter, 2015

Interpretations

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Richmond City Justice Center students - Mixed media, 2015

Interpretations

  • Todd A Hollfelder says:

    Remarkable! Every image is in transition, running, reaching for, the solidity of the strong buildings in the front! Progress has begun but there’s still work to be done!

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Richmond City Justice Center students - Mixed media, 2015

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Richmond City Justice Center students - Mixed media, 2015

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Richmond City Justice Center students - Mixed media, 2015

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Richmond City Justice Center students - Mixed media, 2015

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Richmond City Justice Center students - Mixed media, 2015

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Eugene - Comic, 2015

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Wells - Comic, 2015

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Minna Hint - Jailbird, 2009

Interpretations

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

- I always wanted to go to Paris, France (Cell),

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Alexa Hoyer - I always wanted to go to Paris, France (Cell), 2005

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Antonio - Comic, 2015

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Daniel - Comic, 2015

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Guy - Comic, 2015

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Norm - Comic, 2015

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sam - Comic, 2015

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Wells - Portrait, 2015

Interpretations

  • Arlene Tucker says:

    Translation made with Mikhail Agafonov’s group on his visit to correctional facility for young female offenders in Russia. Интерпретация, выполненная на мастер-классе Михаила Агафонова в девичьей воспитательной колонии в России.

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Eugene - Portrait, 2015

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Guy - Portrait, 2015

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Norm - Self-portrait, 2015

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sam - Self-portrait, 2015

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Adrielle Pittman - Future IDs, 2017-18

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Andrew Winn - Future IDs, 2017-18

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Angel Gutierrez - Future IDs, 2017-18

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Brandon - Future IDs, 2017-18

Interpretations

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Bruce Fowler - Future IDs, 2017-18

Interpretations

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Cirese - Future IDs, 2017-18

Interpretations

  • Free Translation says:

    Two friends from Electrostal, Moscow district, created this collage in response to Cirese’s ID card.

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Cuong Tran - Future IDs, 2017-18

Interpretations

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Daniel - Future IDs, 2017-18

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

E Bergen - Future IDs, 2017-18

Interpretations

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Emiliano - Future IDs, 2017-18

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Felix Miranda - Future IDs, 2017-18

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Gustavo - Future IDs, 2017-18

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Jarred - Future IDs, 2017-18

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Jonte - Future IDs, 2017-18

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Lily - Future IDs, 2017-18

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Luis - Future IDs, 2017-18

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Lumumba - Future IDs, 2017-18

Interpretations

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Invisible Neighbours - Favourite recipes from men in Helsinki prison, 2015

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Todd A. Hollfelder - Fishbowl,

Interpretations

  • Arlene Tucker says:

    Translation made with Mikhail Agafonov’s group on his visit to correctional facility for young female offenders in Russia. Интерпретация, выполненная на мастер-классе Михаила Агафонова в девичьей воспитательной колонии в России.

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Todd A. Hollfelder - I Tried,

Interpretations

  • Arlene Tucker says:

    I let things flow naturally from my mind through my hand onto the paper. This is what I was thinking about, imagining, feeling.

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Todd A. Hollfelder - Are You Confused?,

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Todd A. Hollfelder - NOLA 1950 Krewe of Yuga- Mardi Gras,

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Todd A. Hollfelder - Calavera #3,

Interpretations

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Michael Griggs - Future IDs, 2017-18

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Stan Bey - Future IDs, 2017-18

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Kirn Kim - Future IDs, 2017-18

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

D. Ashton - The Wormhole, June 2011

Interpretations

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

D. Ashton - Red Robin,

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

D. Ashton - The Discovery,

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

D. Ashton - 1940’s, 2004

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

D. Ashton - 1970’s, 2004

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Aaron - Future IDs, 2017

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Limerick Prison - Sculpture Trail at Limerick Prison, 2018

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

C. Alden - Triptych III, 2017

Interpretations

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

C. Alden - Triptych II, 2017

Interpretations

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Carole Alden - Triptych I, 2017

Interpretations

  • Jyrki Heikkinen

    Imagination is a gate and will is a threshold stone.
    Mielikuvitus on portti ja tahto on kynnyskivi.

    Materials: Common reed, Indian ink
    Tarvikkeet: Järviruoko, muste

    2019

  • Anonymous says:

    She is walking free out of the door into the night, the opposite time of day as in the original. She is unchained, walking courageously and proudly out. The bars are behind her and the path into the future goes towards the sky.

  • Arlene Tucker says:

    The seasons pass by. Time either moves very fast or very slowly when you are in jail. I can only imagine. The weather must feel so different from where you are.

  • Arlene Tucker says:

    On the other side

  • anonymous says:

    I feel like this piece shows the body and soul die slowly and mercilessly and rot in jail while the prisoners only joy is to get see the beautiful world, so nature.

    Furthermore, I think it in a way portrays that fact that people who are free take basic things we see everyday like trees and the sky and fresh air very and just sort of disregard them.

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Daniel - Portrait, 2018

Add your interpretation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *