I have recently visited, finally, an exhibition at the Southbank centre in London called ‘Art by Offenders, Secure Patients and Detainees’. In Russian language, there is a saying which means something like ‘Never say never to begging or prison’. Everything can happen, sometimes by an unfortunate twist of fate. In fact, the founder of the Koestler trust who organised the exhibition was a political detainee at some point. Mental health issues are as likely.

The exhibited works covered the themes of forgiveness, redemption, searching for freedom, for escape. The strength of human spirit and the power of hope were on display as was impressive creativity bursting with colours and textures and zest for life. It reminded me that we are all human and that there is always hope.

My top 3 favourite works were a painting by a secure patient called Lost Fruit (done on lined notepad sheets connected by duct tape, in markers! drawn in small circles!), and a small installation called Garden of Eden.