Two worlds collide in a powerful new exhibition transforming criminological research into visual art to examine the systemic nature and emotional aftermath of wrongful convictions.
After is a research-informed art show by Griffith University criminologist and artist Rachel Dioso-Villa, whose work over the past fifteen years has demonstrated that while wrongful conviction may be rare, it is not exceptional, but a recurring problem embedded within legal processes and institutional decision making.
Associate Professor Rachel Dioso-Villa, a member of the Griffith Criminology Institute and the Creative Arts Research Institute, said the exhibition created space for audiences to engage with wrongful conviction beyond statistics and legal outcomes.
"I use art to say all the things I cannot say in words or in academic papers," said Associate Professor Dioso-Villa.
"In academia, we are often asked to be neutral and objective; by contrast, in my art, the feelings are very large, and I can express them openly and honestly."
The exhibition brought together three interconnected bodies of work: Data, Process, and Response, each engaging with the same research material from a different position.
The Data works translated academic research and case analysis into visual form, making visible the scale and systemic nature of error within the justice system.
The Process works drew on journals, research notes, and working documents to reveal the labour of research and art making.
The Response works explored the emotional impact of engaging with trial transcripts, court decisions, media reporting, and interviews with exonerees, their families, and advocates, bringing forward feelings that are often left out or unspoken in professional and research contexts.
After can be seen at Grey Street Gallery, 226 Grey Street, South Bank, 4101 from 3-13 June 2026.
