Today-April 9, 14-15, 21-22 Those who missed the art exhibition held at the now defunct Victoria Prison in January will get another chance to explore the grounds, with new works now on display. The 165-year-old jail will open to the public again for a limited time, giving visitors full access to Hall D, which is now an art museum, and the courtyard. Other parts will be off-limits. 'We can't afford to stage an event on the previous scale,' says Artists Commune director Eric Leung Shiu-kee, who curated the event. 'This time, it will be arts-oriented rather than educational.' The exhibition features more than 20 artworks inspired by prison life. New ones include an installation by Kacey Wong Kwok-choi (above left), who turns the interior of a cell into an exterior environment with a garden where visitors can write a postcard. 'It's a conceptual piece about being deprived of freedom and pondering the past and future, as prisoners often reflect in solitude,' says Wong. Kam Nai-wai of Central and Western District Council, which supports the event, says the prison is an excellent source of artistic inspiration because of its rich history. The rebirth theme of the Easter season has inspired some of the works, such as a mosaic eggshell painting (above right) created by 20 students under the supervision of artist Man Fung-yi. Works on show from the first exhibition include Pauline Lam Yuk-lin's One Minute Prison, which gives visitors a chance to 'repent' while spending a minute in a cell; a bathroom and office painted with calligraphy by Stanley Wong (aka anothermountainman); and an idiosyncratic assortment of graffiti and daily objects collected by 'Frog King' Kwok Mang-ho. The exhibition will be accompanied by workshops and performances. 10am-1pm, 2pm-5pm, Old Bailey St, Central, free. Inquiries: 6828 9303
