The exhibition is a collection of oil portraits depicting past felons of Carmarthen from the "Felon's Register", an historic record of criminal activity. The artist conveys the frailty and vulnerability of his subjects. He gives them character and identity.
The people are shown close up and sitting down. This makes us feel close to them while reminding us of modern day police mugshots. The faces of the subjects are shown with expressions that represent their frustration and desperation. They are shouting or crying.
I visited the exhibition on 30/1/16. I had not seen art like this before. The artist has created new portraits of people whose actions are documented as part of local history.
I liked the fact the artist chose to paint in black and white. It made the images feel like they were from the past and removed a layer that may have distracted from the meaning of the pieces. I also liked the use of expression in the subjects' faces as it created a connection with them.
I would recommend visiting the exhibition as it creates an atmospheric experience. I learnt a lot about the history of Carmarthen's criminals.
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