The True Artist Breaks out of Jail

Booker Prize-winning author Ben Okri, in collaboration with artist Rosemary Clunie, offers journeys into the human spirit for our times. Is everyone an artist? Does the condition of the artist apply in some way to all of us? 'There comes a time in the life of every artist when they must decide whether they are happy in jail. They must decide whether to attain freedom and risk the life out there.' The True Artist Breaks Out of Jail combines the fiction, essays and poetry of Booker Prize-winning author Ben Okri with artworks made in collaboration with painter Rosemary Clunie.

Extending the possibilities of text and image, Okri and Clunie envision a bold and fresh journey through a world in urgent need of imaginative renewal. As personal freedoms and political rights become increasingly restricted, they call on us to push past imposed limitations – both as creatives and as individuals. Featuring thirty-two paintings, The True Artist Breaks Out of Jail speaks to the creative in all of us, highlighting the importance of art within our lives and encouraging a mindset of originality and freedom.

Its narratives and images are a raw response to our times, with subjects ranging from war and climate change to authenticity and truth, to the wounds and wonders of the psyche. What emerges is a powerful collection that explores the nature of art, imagination and the human spirit.