In this episode Gary Mansfield speaks to John Costi (@bapou_costi)

This is John Costi’s second appearance on the Ministry of Arts Podcast, the first being ep.48. He is known for his conceptual and often collaborative work, which explores themes of culture, identity, and history.

In 2012, Costi had a notable experience traveling to Venice with artist Jeremy Deller. The trip was part of a project facilitated by the Koestler Trust, an organization that supports creative work by prisoners, ex-offenders, and young people at risk. Deller, a renowned artist known for his interest in social contexts, invited Costi to join him in Venice during the Venice Biennale, where they explored the intersections of art, prison reform, and personal narrative.

This journey allowed Costi to engage in a broader dialogue about the transformative potential of art, especially for marginalized communities. The Venice trip exemplified Costi’s approach to art-making—collaborative, reflective, and deeply attuned to the social and political dimensions of creative expression.

John and Jeremy have co-curated Koestler Arts’ annual exhibition at Southbanks, Royal festival Hall, ‘No Comment’ runs until 15th December.

For more information on No Comment at the Royal Festival Hall go to https://koestlerarts.org.uk/

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