Australian Myuran Sukumaran
Australian Myuran Sukumaran is escorted by the police as he arrives for his appeal hearing in Denpasar District Court in Indonesia's resort island of Bali September 21, 2010. Sukumaran is member of a group known as the Bali Nine, arrested in April 2005 in Bali with 8.3 kg (18 lb) of heroin strapped to their bodies. Sukumaran was sentenced to death in 2006. He requested for a judicial review for his death sentence to be reduced to 20 years jail. REUTERS/Murdani Usman

Bali Nine co-ringleader Myuran Sukumaran has been awarded an arts degree by Curtin University in Perth ahead of his looming execution. The 33-year-old Australian convict, who is awaiting death by firing squad with Andrew Chan in Indonesia, now has an Associate Degree in Fine Arts.

Sukumaran earned his degree from Kerobokan prison, where he has been held since he was arrested in 2005. His mentor, Archibald Prize 2011 winner Ben Quilty, announced the good news on Friday.

Sukumaran never painted before his incarceration in the Bali jail. With Quilty’s help, the drug smuggler-turned-artist became a passionate painter who has also been hailed a leader in the jail’s art studio. He also teaches classes to prisoners, including English, computer and graphic design lessons, and has started a business selling artworks and t-shirts under the brand Kingpin Clothing.

While in death row, Sukumaran began taking a classes to earn a fine arts degree through correspondence with the Curtin University. And on Friday, he has successfully earned that degree.

He has led a prison exhibition a few months ago, raising almost $4,500 after selling paintings by 15 prisoners. His own work sold between $57 and $144.

“Before I got arrested, I was never really good at anything,” he told Sydney Morning Herald in an interview in 2013. “This has given me a purpose.”

Sadly, this may come to an end soon. Sukumaran and Chan, who has become a Christian and a pastor inside the prison cells, are set to be transferred to Nusakambangan Island, where they will face execution by firing squad. Their request for clemency was denied by President Joko Widodo in January.

Sukumaran’s family have also said good bye to him. His father and siblings arrived at Sydney on Saturday morning after days ahead of his prison transfer and eventual execution.

“Our family is proud of everything he has achieved, for himself and others,” his brother Chinthu told News Corp Australia. Chinthu added that the whole family have been emotionally drained, but those who decided to go back to Australia have pledged to return to Bali soon.

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