Prison art by ex-officials draws public attention  

北京展示前官員獄中書畫 黃光裕等獲評標兵(組圖)

昨天，北京市監獄管理局舉辦了“墨香藝韻重塑新生”服刑人員“光明行”書畫手工藝作品展開幕式。本市所屬各監獄服刑人員獄中創作的74幅書畫作品首次面向全社會正式展示，其中包括前國家藥監局藥品注冊司司長曹文莊在內的幾名職務犯罪的服刑人員的書畫作品。 [查看全文]

(ECNS)-- Paintings and calligraphy created by prisoners in Beijing are on display at a special exhibit hosted by the municipal prison management bureau, with some former high-level officials' works especially eye-catching.

Held at Capital Library, the exhibit features 74 calligraphy and paintings created by prisoners in Beijing. An opening ceremony for the exhibition was held on Wednesday.

Among the highlights at the event are two soft pen calligraphy works, "The Doctrine of Teacher" and "An Admonition to My Son", created by Cao Wenzhuang, former director of the country's food and drug watchdog.

Cao was given a death sentence with a two-year reprieve in 2007 for accepting bribes and dereliction of duty. He is now serving his sentence at Beijing Prison.

Cao was selected as a "reeducation model" at the prison, according to an official there.

Besides Cao, there are several other official-turned-inmates who contributed their artworks to the exhibit. More than 10 artworks are created by former chiefs who committed crimes while on duty.

Another "famous" prisoner and "reeducation model" is Huang Guangyu, former Chinese appliance tycoon, the official added.

Huang, former chairman of Gome Electrical Appliances Holdings, was sentenced to 14 years in prison for illegal business dealings, insider trading and corporate bribery in 2010.

The show is on display for one week.