The Torch Gallery’s Future Dreaming exhibition returns

Sean Barker’s artistic journey began in Daly River in the Northern Territory, where he would watch his mother paint when he was a child. However, his journey to behind the canvas was not without its challenges.

Sean spent time in prison in Western Australia and Tasmania before a stint in Victoria throughout the pandemic.

After being in and out of prison, he said that it didn’t always seem like the worst option to be locked up. However, he had a different experience when he was in Victoria.

It was there that he joined The Torch program, which gave him the opportunity to develop his artistic practice and reconnect with his culture.

For him, painting is more than creative expression – it’s a source of healing, balance and empowerment.

In environments where he has little control, painting gives him agency, allowing him to continue a family legacy and carry cultural knowledge forward.

The Torch is a not-for-profit, First Nations-led arts organisation that provides art, cultural and arts industry support to First Nations people who are, or have been, incarcerated in Victoria.

Between October 24 and November 22, it will be holding the Future Dreaming exhibition at its Carlton gallery, featuring more than 200 artworks by First Peoples artists currently incarcerated in Victorian prisons.

Each artwork offers a glimpse into the artist’s vision of the future – from deeply personal hopes, such as reuniting with family, returning to Country or reconnecting with culture, to broader reflections on the future of political, social and environmental systems.

It’s an annual exhibition, established in 2020, that has enabled artists like Sean to sell their first work – an experience that he said was a welcome morale boost while he was incarcerated.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are significantly over-represented in Australia's justice system, accounting for 36 per cent of the prison population despite making up a small fraction of the total population.

However, amid this reality, Future Dreaming is a testament to the transformative power of art and cultural connection, asking artists to think of life beyond incarceration.

One artist who is part of this year’s exhibition, named Karlie, said, “When I imagine what my future holds, I always think of security and protection for the people I love.

Another artist, Sam, said his painting represents everything he looks forward to in the future, “Being free, being back on Country, back with my Mob, connecting back with my roots, connecting back to my culture.”

A core tenet of the exhibition is its focus on providing incarcerated people with agency. The Torch takes no commission on sales from the exhibition, meaning 100 per cent of the artwork price goes directly to the artists. The artworks are priced between $180 and $330.

The Torch Gallery is located at 146 Elgin St, Carlton. •