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Tributes have been left at an art installation designed to replicate the cell of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny<\/a><\/span><\/span>.<\/p>\n His death in an Arctic Circle jail<\/a> was announced by Russia’s prison service earlier this week.<\/p>\n Navalny, a vociferous critic of President Vladimir Putin<\/a><\/span><\/span>, had been in prison since January 2021.<\/p>\n The artwork, in Dorchester Abbey in Oxfordshire, is a life-size reconstruction of his prison cell.<\/p>\n Visitors are invited to enter the 10ft (3m) by 7ft (2m) artwork and remain inside for three minutes in what artist Adrian Brooks described as an “act of solidarity”.<\/p>\n Speaking to the BBC before the news of Navalny’s death, the artist said he hoped people felt “overwhelmed” by the experience.<\/p>\n A soundscape of marching feet and a ticking clock inside the piece is designed to replicate the conditions that Navalny would have experienced while in detention.<\/p>\n Mr Brooks said he hoped the artwork would make people leave thinking: “I admire your courage, your faith, your home, your love, your compassion.”<\/p>\n He added: “It’s an act of gratitude that there are people of such passion and courage and faith who are willing to make a stand for human dignity and justice.”<\/p>\n The artist said he hoped the ultimate effect of the piece on people would be “one of hope rather than claustrophobia”.<\/p>\n The installation also features portraits of other political prisoners around the world, including Terry Waite – the Church of England envoy who was held captive in Lebanon between 1987 and 1991.<\/p>\n Follow BBC South on <\/em>Facebook<\/a>, <\/em>X<\/a>, or <\/em>Instagram<\/a>. Send your story ideas to <\/em>south.newsonline@bbc.co.uk<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/div>\n