Behind Bars and Beyond Walls: Dropcity Launches with a Provocative Exhibition on Incarceration and Design

Dropcity, Milan’s innovative hub for architecture and design, famously opened on April 3, unveiling its inaugural exhibition, ‘Prison Times – Spatial Dynamics of Penal Environments’. This exhibition delves into the hidden dynamics of the prison experience, challenging viewers to confront a world often kept out of sight: confinement.

Through over 1,000 square meters of exhibitions housed in repurposed railway tunnels, visitors will engage with an archive of objects sourced from prisons worldwide, displayed in stark, clinical arrangements.

The ambition is clear: shed light on a complex intersection of architecture, society, and justice. Andrea Caputo, founder of Dropcity, emphasizes the importance of confronting difficult subjects in art and architecture.

• What You’ll Explore:
• How design influences incarceration.
• The relationship between space and the lived experience of inmates.
• Key objects designed within prisons that embody systemic control.

This isn’t your standard exhibition; it’s a confronting yet necessary examination of the realities of prison life. The presentation is structured to reflect the mechanization and uniformity of prison systems.

‘Prison Times’ invites you to reflect on items that govern prisoners’ lives, from standard-issue clothing to functional utensils. Items are presented in a manner that strips them of sentiment, revealing their intended functionality and, often, their inherent brutality.

Every object serves as a commentary on how deeply design influences the experience of confinement—highlighting control and the harsh realities of incarceration. In Caputo’s words, “Time in prison is never neutral; it is often oppressive.” The exhibition’s title effectively underlines the disjointed concept of time within prison walls.

Furthermore, the exhibition doesn’t shy away from the complexities of imprisonment and its entangled emotions. Curatorial efforts ensure that pain and suffering remain at the forefront without drifting into romanticism.

Rich in research and public dialogues, ‘Prison Times’ creates a path for artistic contributions and individual responses to imprisonment. Alongside the exhibition, a critical lecture series will welcome experts from various fields, broadening the discourse surrounding incarceration.

Join the conversation, understand the narratives, and become part of a community that sees beyond aesthetics.