Looking at outsider art, I narrowed my research down to the work of Charles Bronson (Michael Peterson). His works depict a very surreal and disturbing insight of his views from behind the bars. He uses highly detailed illustrations of disfiguration, mutilation and mental illness to deliver a message on humanity, institutionalisation and insanity. Bronson’s work is heavily inspired by surrealist Salvador Dali’s paintings and also his time in Broadmoor.
His illustrations are extremely gruesome, and coupled with his eventful backstory it gives a larger insight into each image. The themes raised upon viewing his work revolve around violence and imprisonment, where his own likeness is shown to be isolated.
