“Humanity Unchained!” is a living art project and timely social statement that, in a very poignant and direct way, illustrates and confronts the issue of false imprisonment, torture, and human rights violations committed everyday in many countries around the world. On a prearranged date and at a very public location over 100 volunteers will be chained, collared, shackled, and manacled together in a continuous human chain with a diverse and historically important collection of authentic restraints and punishment devices used to bind and fetter prisoners throughout the ages. This museum quality assemblage of rare restraint devices is the personal collection of escape artist/restraint and punishment historian Steve Santini and it includes numerous authentic articles used throughout history in the imprisonment, abuse, and torture of those both “legally” convicted and also countless others who have been falsely accused and imprisoned. Included in this unique collection are the following notable artifacts:

• Restraints and ancient torture devices used in Medieval times to repress and punish free thinkers and those accused of witchery and heretical crimes against organized religious powers.
• Instruments of confinement used in the slave trade.
• Handcuffs, leg irons, and fetters used as tools of terror by military governments, dictatorships, and police states.
• Restraining devices used in the control and “treatment” of the mentally ill.

Presented in our so called “civilized” society, “Humanity Unchained!” is intended to remind us of the evils man is capable of and also to show us that if the future is to change and be brighter we must be aware of the darkness that dwelt in our past and that also is alive and well in our present. By means of the authentic restraints and devices used, “Humanity Unchained!”, becomes a cautionary message that is driven home in an undeniably tangible and powerful way.

“Humanity Unchained!” will first be presented in the summer of 2009 and it is Steve Santini’s desire and intention that this exhibition becomes a yearly event with more volunteers and devices being added each year to increase the impact of the presentation.