We tend to think of art as an indulgence, meant only for some. But in truth, art creates the opportunity for its makers to express themselves, reflect on their lives, respond to their circumstances, explore the unknown, and give the viewer a glimpse into their mind, body and soul.

The art works featured in this ‘gallery’ often accompany letters from those sentenced to death, sent to the team at Project 39A, National Law University Delhi. Like the letters this online exhibition is based on, the art created by prisoners sentenced to death captures a range of moods, from the tentative to the lighthearted, the fearful to the dark, the festive to the hopeful. Sometimes taking the place of words that cannot be said, or emotions struggling to find a language.

These art works embellish the envelopes posted from prison, fill the margins of letters, are scribbled on postcards, form 3-dimensional cards, soap carvings and sometimes even become a guitar made with sticks, thread, nut shells and paint.

In choosing to use some of their meagre resources to do so, the prisoners facing death are reaching out and speaking to us, so we may not lose sight of their humanity, their uniqueness, their lived experiences, their insights, struggles and dreams. In black and white and in colour, they evoke multiple emotions, trigger our own memories, and give us a glimmer of something much deeper that may connect us with them.