In the 1980s prisoners expressed their frustrations, anger, pain and humour on the surfaces of No.2 Division in the form of graffiti. Through artwork, words, prose and poetry these today offer an authentic insight into what was going in their minds and what was going in and out of Boggo Road. References to Expo ’88, roof-top protests, music, passions and politics range from the crude and rude, to the moving and powerful.
Griffith University PHD student Belinda Costanzo has been recording this invaluable history, and has developed a new guided tour to see some of the most fascinating.
"As part of my PhD in Criminology I am analysing the graffiti in No.2 Division of Boggo Road Gaol to gain insight into the lived experiences of prisoners formally incarcerated at the prison. In order to give the graffiti a 'voice', it is important to take into consideration the historical, political and social context in which the graffiti was created. During the graffiti tour you will get the opportunity to view a number of items of graffiti that remain on the walls of No. 2 Division, and discuss these is relation to broader social and political context of the 1980s. The content of the graffiti is diverse - some is humorous in nature, some refers to relationships (both inside and outside of the prison), and some reflect resistance to the criminal justice system, while others reflect resistance to broader social and political issues (such as Indigenous and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Land Rights). On the tour you will view graffiti that is reflective of these themes and others."
Restrictions
STRONG IMAGERY AND LANGUAGE
Visitors need to be aware cells and walls are covered in authentic 1980s prison graffiti - including swearing, racism, violent and obscene language and imagery. Some is extremely confronting. It is advisable to gauge the content of cells prior to allowing children to enter.