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The Art of Crime: Diary of a Prison Art Tutor
A shocking and darkly hilarious account of life as a prison art tutor.
As an Art Tutor working in Britain's jails, Steven Tafka's job was to teach the supposedly unteachable. The longer he did the job, the more it seemed like it was him that was serving a sentence. Writing this darkly comic book gave him a release and helped him to survive.
From the initial job interview, 'The Art of Crime' charts the journey of a rookie prison art tutor from idealism to the depths of the prison underworld. Written in diary form it details the tragi-comic, often absurd daily experiences of trying to help prisoners to achieve a qualification against all the odds.
Tafka had to discover the art of teaching watercolours to violent gangsters and introduce murderers to Monet. He finds himself doing swimming pool designs for an armed robber and trying to keep order in a classroom where one of the learners thinks he is Picasso Peppa Pig. And all this is happening as he is having to count the latex gloves in and out (so the prisoners can't smoke them) and watch out for illicit hooch brewing behind the classroom radiators.
This book gives a rodents-and-all insight into the dysfunctionality of prison life, the often-abject conditions, but more importantly the power of art to transform lives. There is an undoubted fascination with the art prisoners make, because it has something to tell us about the human condition and this book reveals the characters behind it
As an Art Tutor working in Britain's jails, Steven Tafka's job was to teach the supposedly unteachable. The longer he did the job, the more it seemed like it was him that was serving a sentence. Writing this darkly comic book gave him a release and helped him to survive.
From the initial job interview, 'The Art of Crime' charts the journey of a rookie prison art tutor from idealism to the depths of the prison underworld. Written in diary form it details the tragi-comic, often absurd daily experiences of trying to help prisoners to achieve a qualification against all the odds.
Tafka had to discover the art of teaching watercolours to violent gangsters and introduce murderers to Monet. He finds himself doing swimming pool designs for an armed robber and trying to keep order in a classroom where one of the learners thinks he is Picasso Peppa Pig. And all this is happening as he is having to count the latex gloves in and out (so the prisoners can't smoke them) and watch out for illicit hooch brewing behind the classroom radiators.
This book gives a rodents-and-all insight into the dysfunctionality of prison life, the often-abject conditions, but more importantly the power of art to transform lives. There is an undoubted fascination with the art prisoners make, because it has something to tell us about the human condition and this book reveals the characters behind it
304 pages, Paperback
Published March 31, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 7, 2022
A fascinating and illuminating visit behind the closed doors of our prison system. Steven Tafka takes you on a ride you won't forget but keeps you laughing just enough to sooth the inevitable discomfort of the way the justice system in our country treats prisoners, inmates, guests of Her Majesty or (in Steven Tafka's world) art students. It also made me want to take up art classes!
This would be perfect as a TV series in the same vein as 'This is Going to Hurt'.
This would be perfect as a TV series in the same vein as 'This is Going to Hurt'.
April 26, 2022
Steven is an art tutor in a prison, the book is set really nicely, i.e. Day 128. He talks about his day to day life in there, such as the inmates, the daily arguments/discussions, how bad you feel when your off sick or on holiday as they are banged up behind their cell bars with no structure.
He talks about the inmates who have such personalities it sucks you in to make you think you are actually there whilst he is talking to them. Oh and don't forget Fu**ing Picasso Peppa Pig 😂
Such a fantastic read, I highly recommend this. It is such a well written book, I love the bluntness, the way he describes and talks about his day to day life of the ins and outs of the system. I'm not going to lie I have laughed way to many times reading this 😂
He talks about the inmates who have such personalities it sucks you in to make you think you are actually there whilst he is talking to them. Oh and don't forget Fu**ing Picasso Peppa Pig 😂
Such a fantastic read, I highly recommend this. It is such a well written book, I love the bluntness, the way he describes and talks about his day to day life of the ins and outs of the system. I'm not going to lie I have laughed way to many times reading this 😂
June 8, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, some proper laugh out loud movements within the memoir.
I loved that we got to see not only the authors thoughts around his job/the system (some more blunt then others 🤣), but the personalities of the prisoners completely came through, some of them were hysterical.
A great read for any non-fiction/memoir fans.
I loved that we got to see not only the authors thoughts around his job/the system (some more blunt then others 🤣), but the personalities of the prisoners completely came through, some of them were hysterical.
A great read for any non-fiction/memoir fans.
June 23, 2022
Addictive! I read it in one sitting.
A real eye opener to the prison system and the challenges within. Loved the compassion, encouragement and humour shown by the author.
A real eye opener to the prison system and the challenges within. Loved the compassion, encouragement and humour shown by the author.
December 28, 2022
This is my top book of 2022. Equally funny and sad...sad in that it shows the prison system to be broken and lacking in reform. Steven Tafka writes with honesty and real wit. A page turner and a great read. Recommend!!
January 26, 2023
An excellent read. Eye-opening, and his analysis of education is spot on.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews