Bread for the World: First Impressions - Portraits from Prison

Yesterday's Bread for the World service at St Martin-in-the-Fields reflected on First Impressions - Portraits from Prison and shared information on the Prisons Mission of Churches Together in Westminster. I shared the following reflections: 

Portraits are about people and portraits by prisoners flag up that the importance of people in our lives is perhaps never more significant than when we are cut off from those we love or when we are locked up with those we have not chosen as our companions. As a result, when viewing these portraits, it is helpful to ask yourself why each person depicted is of significance to the artist painting that subject.



‘Wishful Thinking’ is a set of six images inspired by the screen-prints of Andy Warhol. Michael cleverly demonstrates his knowledge of modern art as the background to each image uses a different artistic style. The image of a woman is constant with the same phrase ‘I’ll wait for you my love!’ repeated in different languages. This suggests that all around the world couples are separated through the experience of imprisonment. However, this is then subverted by the title Michael has chosen; ‘Wishful Thinking’ suggests that partners’ willingness to wait may not be as universal as the images themselves suggest. Does this indicate personal experience of disappointment or cynicism about fidelity and perseverance? We don’t know, but we do know that Michael subtly opens up reflections on the tensions placed on relationships by the experience of imprisonment.



With ‘Shout it out’ Mary has created a simple but arresting image of the need for and necessity of offloading feelings and emotions in order to survive the experience of imprisonment. Who is the woman in the picture offloading to? It is each of us, as we view the image. So, this is perhaps an image highlighting the value of the Prisons Mission and of prison visiting generally, as we can be a neutral person who can listen confidentially.

Finally, ‘A head full of possibilities’ is a beautiful image of a head containing a constellation of stars with the thought that each of us can and should choose to shine brilliantly, however we can. This exhibition, and the stories told by the artists, demonstrate the genuinely restorative ability of art in enabling people to express their innermost emotions and channel these to creative ends.

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The Band - I Shall Be Released.

God is Red

'Liao Yiwu, 57, has lived in exile in Berlin since 2011. He was a leading Chinese literary figure until 1989 when he wrote a long poem titled Massacre addressed to the authors of the Tiananmen massacre (4 June 1989). Sentenced to four years in jail, he experienced life behind bars and social exclusion.

Although his books have been banned, they are widely circulated underground. Among the most famous are The Corpse Walker (English translation by Pantheon, 2008) and Dans l'empire des ténèbres ('In the empire of darkness,' in French, by François Bourin Editeur, 2013), in which he describes his experiences in prison.

In God is Red, published in 2011 in English and in French last month, he talks about his encounters with Christians from Yunnan, Hebei, Beijing and other parts of China. Before that, Liwu had never been interested in Christianity ...

In prison, Liao met with Christian prisoners. In doing so, he discovered another group of fellow Chinese. In God is Red, he relates the stories of some 20 people, Catholics and Protestants. Like many Chinese who do not know the history of the Church, he cannot see much difference between the two.

At the book launch on 12 February, he noted that converting to Christianity is "fashionable" in China. "During the 2000s, there was a strong sense of insecurity, of threat, in China," he said in the interview. "Not everyone had Liu Xiaobo's inner strength to resist those in power". A friend of Liao Yiwu, Liu won the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize. In 2009, he was sentenced to 11 years in prison for some of his online writings.

"Conversion is a way to find spiritual assistance. Yu Jie, a writer who became famous in the 90s, converted after feeling overwhelmed by the regime's threats. My friend Wang Yi did the same, as did their wives. For them it is a way to stop fear. Moreover, when we would meet, my recently converted friends would urge me to convert as well."

Even though Liao Yiwu is not a Christian, he is impressed by the courage Christians showed. Persecuted by the Communist government, they have remained steadfast in their faith.

"They all impressed me. Their fierce resistance for the freedom to believe inspired me a lot," he said. "The one who impressed me the most was a lady who was more than 100 years old, who was filled with holy anger. It is this holy anger that made her live. She wanted to fight until the complete victory of freedom for her religion."'

Friday's Guardian included a report about the current situation:

'A Chinese human rights lawyer who disappeared into police custody last month after joining the fight against a government drive to take down church crosses could face spying charges.

Zhang Kai, a Beijing-based attorney, was seized by security officials on 25 August in Wenzhou, a city in the eastern province of Zhejiang sometimes referred to as China’s Jerusalem because of its large Christian population.

Zhang had been in Wenzhou offering legal support to churches battling a controversial Communist party demolition drive that has targeted Christian places of worship since late 2013.

Writing on Weibo, China’s Twitter, two weeks before his detention, Zhang said: “I have thought it through: at worst they can put me in jail. But if I keep silent, I will regret it for the rest of my life.”'

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Soar On Wings.