Artist Debbie Adele Cooper has been researching letters written by Conscientious Objectors; in particular an undiscovered diary of a young Quaker serving time for his religious beliefs at the beginning of the 20th century.
Debbie worked with Dartmoor Prison Museum's archive to explore the stories of 100 years ago, finding ways to make them relevant to today.
Between 1917-1919 Dartmoor Prison housed over 1100 Conscientious Objectors (C.O.s); men who refused to fight in the war upon grounds of conscience. Debbie has been researching letters and diaries written by C.O.s who served time in Dartmoor Prison and sharing these writings with current inmates of Dartmoor Prison. Working with the artist, prisoners have recorded words from C.O.s diaries, sharing the ‘Unseen and Unheard Things’ of incarceration during WWI.
This moving sound installation explores a cultural history of incarceration, what it means to be excluded and ostracised from society.
Supported by the National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund
