Para ver esta página en español presione aquí.

San Lucas Prison Graffiti Many of the cells in San Lucas Prison are covered in pictures and writing. Some is artistic, some grotesque and some humourous.

They serve as a reminder of trhe suffering and the lifestyle of the inmates, and the pictures in particular give an insight to the culture of the jail at the time.
We have spoken to Jose Leomn Sanchez, author of the book "the Island of the Lonely Men" a novel based in the prison, and he states that at the time he left the prison in 1969 there was no grafiti. The images you can see therefore date from after then until teh prison closed its doors in 1992.

Isala San Lucas graffiti is different from standard street graffiti by its very nature ( as compared to gang related or street artist graffiti). they had limited tools and paints, and the writing focusses on prison rules andbehaviour. It shows what they missed, what they hated, important issues of the day, and understandably there is a considerable emphasis on women and sex.

"respete esta cama. Artavia" -- respect this bed. Artavia (Last name)
"La libertad cuesta pero se logra"-- Freedom is hard to get but it can be achieved"
"Gerardo y Oscar" (Two male names)
"I love you San Lucas"

Costa Rican author. Ilse Marie Bussing, wrote a book "cuando las paredes hablan. Graffiti de San Lucas (roughly when walls talk). She made an analysis of teh predominant subjects, and concluded that the priorities are:
Sexuality (both women and homosexual)
Identity
God
Ownership of space/ territoriality
Informers
Rules and advice
Freedom and philosophical commenst

The inks used to write by the prisoners are also interesting. The had no paints or proper inks and so had to mae thei own from soot, cigarette ash, coloured stones and soaps, and the most intriguing; blood (authors and victims)

Some images from the prison



This is a magazine character from the 80's called Memin. It is not obvious whether this was just for fun to commemorate a mishchivious character, or was an insult to another inmate who may have looked like the character. The name Christian appears in the drawing-- author or victim of the prank?











Signs of prison life-- shackles and chains appear in many places. Bizzarely these were the prisoners closest companions for years and many appear to have formed a strange attachment to them.


The most dangeous prisoners and those considered most likely to escape, were given the most uncomfortable shackles. Despite this, prisoners adapted to them over time, and there are reports of prisoners trying to swim with them.

Religeous drawings, in particular Jesus are common, indicating that even the hardest of criminals still sought devine help to get through the hard times.


                                                          





Drawings of women reflect a mixture of emotions such as love , disappointment, and lust.





The walls were also used just for fun, or to record the artistic ability of the artist.
















  " peace" and "My God help them"

Please contact us at


Phone: (506) 2233-2681
Fax:     (506) 2233-2523
E-mail: info@samanthatours.com
Website: www.samanthatours.com