June 6 -13 July 2025
Performance June 6 - 8
Harlesden High Street, London
Consultant: Aziah James Lusala
This exhibition will transform the gallery into a prison cell for over 72 hours, during which the conceptual artist Allen-Golder Carpenter will live inside the cell. The purpose of this exhibition is to provide a raw and unfiltered insight into the inhuman conditions and psychological effects of incarceration, drawing attention to the often overlooked realities of prison life. The gallery space, known for its intimate size, creates an immersive experience. The all-glass storefront allows for passersby to witness the performance, adding a unique element of public engagement to the work. This setting will create a powerful contrast between the freedom outside the glass and the confinement within, enhancing the emotional impact of the piece.
It is crucial to clarify that this exhibition is not intended to exploit prison culture for profit. Instead, it aims to raise awareness about the harsh realities faced by inmates in the American prison system. To further underline our commitment to this cause, 15% of the exhibition sales will be donated to a DC prison reform organisation and HMP Feltham.
The exhibition will feature a small number of installations that Allen will interact with in the durational performance, each representing different aspects of prison life. In conjunction with the artworks created during the performance and presented as part of The Cost of Confinement, Allen-Golder Carpenter and Emmanuel Massillon, will also present a number of affordable editions. These will include a zine, limited edition posters, and a special edition tee-shirt collection from both artists independent brands.
Installation Images
Hour glass made of two water bottles, with the sand made from the collected shavings of toothbrushes siled down into shivs
I shat in this bucket and buried my waste with cement
Works by Emmanuel Massillon