by Maria Sofou
In this truly unique art project, 17 graffiti artists (16 Swiss and 1 Polish) painted over 4500 square meters of the high security Lenzburg Prison in Switzerland. Ranging from abstract and representational to photo-realistic and collage, their work spans exercise yards, exterior walls, stairwells, hallways, and common areas, creating a truly beautiful scenery.
The cold, depressive setting of the prison has now become much warmer thanks to these artists which include Malik, Claude “Note” Lüthi, Robert Proch, Onur, Mizzo, Ti, Lain, Ata “Toast” Bosaci, Huran “Shark” Dogan, Daniel Zeltner, Sarah Parsons, Nevercrew (Pablo Togni and Cristian Rebecchi), Benjamin Solt, David Monllar, and Chromeo – the irony that can be found here is that many of them probably have risked getting arrested due to their street artworks!
The project was widely documented by photographers and film-makers and is now published in a book called 4661m2: Art in Prison , aiming not only to allow the public to have access to the locked up work but also to inspire similar projects. Truly unique!
