London show highlights Sukumaran's plight

A cousin of Myuran Sukumaran hopes an exhibition of his art in London will help focus attention on the Australian's impending execution in Indonesia.

A cousin of death row prisoner Myuran Sukumaran is hoping an exhibition of the Australian's art in London will increase pressure on Indonesian's president to grant the 33-year-old clemency.

Sukumaran is being held on Central Java's Nusakambangan island along with Andrew Chan ahead of their planned execution by firing squad.

But some 12,000 kilometres away in the English capital his cousin, Niranjela Karunatilake, is preparing to open an exhibition of Sukumaran's paintings on Monday.

"I hope people will come to see the exhibition next week and think of Myu and let Indonesia know that there are people all over the world calling for mercy," Ms Karunatilake said in a statement.

"Myu is a talented artist and I have seen his skill develop over the past four years.

"You can see him finding himself in his paintings. It is clear painting has been a vital comfort for him on death row."

Ms Karunatilake said supporters weren't asking for Sukumaran, who was born in London, to be freed.

But he'd proven himself to be kind and compassionate and deserved that in return, she said.

"Myu will be 34 on Friday (April 17) and it's just too sad to think that could be his last birthday.

"The death penalty is never the answer and I don't believe it deters crime.

"But in Myu's case, when he has done so much to repent and improve prison conditions, it would be a real tragedy if his life was cut short."

The week-long exhibition will be held at Amnesty International's London headquarters in Shoreditch. It follows a similar show in Amsterdam in mid-March.

Convicted drug traffickers Sukumaran and Chan on Monday lost a bid to challenge their clemency rejections in the state administrative court.

But lawyers for the Bali Nine pair on Thursday sought a constitutional court review to make clear Indonesian President Joko Widodo's obligations on considering clemency. It could take several months.

Ms Karunatilake, who works as a producer for a creative agency in London, last visited Sukumaran in February.

The works being exhibited next week were all made during his 10 years on death row.

The oil paintings include one depicting a single bullet and a self-portrait in which Sukumaran's face gradually smears away until it is unrecognisable.


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Source: AAP



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