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A glimpse into the last decision these inmates would ever make - PHOTO

A glimpse into the last decision these inmates would ever make - PHOTO
22.02.2014 11:30
It was one of the final decisions any of these death row inmates were going to make.

But whether it be a single unpitted olive, lobster tail and steak or two pints of mint and chocolate chip ice cream, their choice of last meal could also be said to offer a glimpse into each of these prisoners' personalities.Photographer Henry Hargreaves has recreated the meals chosen by the inmates hours before they were executed and photographed them from a prisoner's-eye-view.One inmate, Victor Feguer, 28, simply requested a single unpitted olive - presented on a huge ceramic plate and accompanied with a knife and fork.John Waye Gacy meanwhile, of Illinois, who was convicted of rape and 33 counts of murder, ordered 12 shrimp, french fries and a bucket of KFC, topped with strawberries.And Ronnie Lee Gardener - who was killed by firing squad in Utah - watched the Lord of the Rings trilogy as he ate a lobster tail, steak, apple pie and vanilla ice cream.Mr Hargreaves, from Brooklyn, New York, said: 'When you read about the death row inmates they were just names and statistics.'But once I found out about what they ate as their last meal they began to come to life. I could see a little corner of their personality.'Each meal was meticulously restaged by Mr Hargreaves in his studio, with everything down to the table cloth and cutlery matching the era of the execution.It cost him hundreds of dollars to buy ingredients needed - before rustling up the meals himself.The inmates themselves were refused alcohol and could only receive a meal costing up to $40.Mr Hargreaves said: 'I tried to recreate the meals as if the prisoner had just sat down to eat and they are looking into their plate.'Different prisons, different states and different eras all meant I had to create very different settings for each one.'It's a new look at the traditional ritual to grant a condemned person a final meal of their request and to receive religious right.'Mr Hargreaves focused on death row inmates in America, where an estimated 3,000 people are currently waiting to be executed, picking the oddest requests recorded.The powerful work has received rave reviews after being displayed online.The artist said: 'I was showing the series to an older gentleman and I could see tears welling in his eyes.'Although he didn't say anything I knew right then that he had a personal connection at some point with this ritual.'I only picked the most bizarre last meals such as the guy who ordered just a single olive, which easily had to be the strangest.'There has been some speculation on the significance of this as an olive is believed to be a symbol of rebirth, so to be buried with an olive pit in your stomach is an interesting notion.'(dailymail.co.uk)ANN.Az

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