Old Pimlico prison inspires winning art sculpture

An old Pimlico prison was the inspiration for a sculpture that was this year's joint winner of the £10,000 Cass Prize. 

Millbank Prison, the muse for the piece, used to be situated where Chelsea College of Art and Design now stands. It was erected in 1816 and was brought down in 1890. Fittingly it was a Chelsea College of Art and Design student, Gloria Zein, whose sculpture won first prize and was inspired by the former prison. 

The art piece, called This Is What Happened, is 3.1 metres tall and is half dark and half coloured in brighter shades as a depiction of the history of the area and the changes that have occurred over time. 

It went on exhibit at the College's Rootstein Hopkins Parade Ground yesterday and is not to be missed as Zein is now destined for great artistic achievements. 

Zein's piece, along with the other joint winner's Some Cuts Resonate - a bronze bell sliced in half - will be on display till mid-November when they will then go on sale at the Cass Sculpture Foundation at Goodwood.