In this episode Gary Mansfield speaks to Patrick Maguire

Patrick Maguire was the youngest member of the "Maguire Seven," a group wrongfully convicted in the 1970s for involvement in IRA bombings in Guildford and Woolwich. At just 13 years old, he was arrested alongside his family in December 1974. The Maguire Seven were accused of operating a bomb-making factory from their London home, based on dubious forensic evidence. Patrick was sentenced to four years in prison, during which he endured solitary confinement and significant psychological trauma.

The convictions of the Maguire Seven were eventually quashed in 1991, acknowledging the miscarriage of justice they had suffered.

In the years following his release, Patrick Maguire turned to art as a means of coping with his experiences. His work often reflects the darkness and confinement he endured during his imprisonment. In 2017, he held an exhibition titled "Out from the Darkness," marking a transition from his earlier, darker pieces to works embracing more colour and light.

Additionally, Patrick co-authored a memoir, "My Father's Watch: The Story of a Child Prisoner in 70s Britain," detailing his experiences and the impact of the wrongful convictions on his life and family.

Patrick Maguire's story stands as a poignant reminder of the profound personal consequences of miscarriages of justice.

Thank you to Anna Goodman for this connection.

For more information on the work of Patrick Maguire contact [email protected] or www.abstraktpublicity.co.uk

To Support this podcast from as little as £3 per month: www.patreon/ministryofarts

For full line up of confirmed artists go to https://www.ministryofarts.co.uk

Email: [email protected]

Social Media: @ministryofartsorg

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Gary Mansfield speaks to Patrick Maguire

Patrick Maguire was the youngest member of the "Maguire Seven," a group wrongfully convicted in the 1970s for involvement in IRA bombings in Guildford and Woolwich. At just 13 years old, he was arrested alongside his family in December 1974. The Maguire Seven were accused of operating a bomb-making factory from their London home, based on dubious forensic evidence. Patrick was sentenced to four years in prison, during which he endured solitary confinement and significant psychological trauma.

The convictions of the Maguire Seven were eventually quashed in 1991, acknowledging the miscarriage of justice they had suffered.

In the years following his release, Patrick Maguire turned to art as a means of coping with his experiences. His work often reflects the darkness and confinement he endured during his imprisonment. In 2017, he held an exhibition titled "Out from the Darkness," marking a transition from his earlier, darker pieces to works embracing more colour and light.

Additionally, Patrick co-authored a memoir, "My Father's Watch: The Story of a Child Prisoner in 70s Britain," detailing his experiences and the impact of the wrongful convictions on his life and family.

Patrick Maguire's story stands as a poignant reminder of the profound personal consequences of miscarriages of justice.

Thank you to Anna Goodman for this connection.

For more information on the work of Patrick Maguire contact [email protected] or www.abstraktpublicity.co.uk

To Support this podcast from as little as £3 per month: www.patreon/ministryofarts

For full line up of confirmed artists go to https://www.ministryofarts.co.uk

Email: [email protected]

Social Media: @ministryofartsorg

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Gary Mansfield speaks to Tim Fowler (@timjfowler)

Tim Fowlers semi abstracted paintings, informed by the migratory plants that accompanied his own DNA, from west Africa, via the Caribbean to the UK, fill his often oversized canvases, overwhelming the viewer with striking compositions, executed in Tim’s signature palette.

Tim’s main concern within his work is exploring the colour field. Although vivid Tim’s works are invariably balanced, using a signature colour palette of extremely bright and intense hues makes his work distinctly recognisable.

He uses a variety of medium within his work combining oil, acrylic, spray, enamel and graffiti inks. Tim subverts traditional and contemporary methods of applying these mediums using brushes, different aperture caps and marker paint mops to orchestrate purposeful marks, strokes, drips, scrapes and smears across the canvas whilst constructing his exciting and dynamic artworks.

Using found and made images as a starting point. Tim builds layers of pigment, adding abstract fragments as well as bold marks, broken lines and liberal strokes to create contours and features, be they of botanicals, building facades, silver screen legends or intimate family scenes. Doing this captures something more interesting than literal representation. This visceral connection to colour is palpably intuitive to Tim, using it as an expression of internal contemplations.

Over the many years of Tim’s career this organic relationship with paint and colour has developed and shines through, as he experiments with opacity, texture combinations, finishes and light. The deconstruction of his subject is rebuilt in a cacophony of colour turning recognisable features into their base elements to highlight unseen splendour.

For more information on the work of Tim Fowler go to https://www.timjfowler.co.uk

To Support this podcast from as little as £3 per month: www.patreon/ministryofarts

For full line up of confirmed artists go to https://www.ministryofarts.co.uk

Email: [email protected]

Social Media: @ministryofartsorg

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Gary Mansfield speaks to Jeremy Deller (@jeremydeller)

Jeremy Deller is a British conceptual artist renowned for his innovative and socially engaged practice. His work often explores history, politics, memory, and collective identity, blending art with performance, video, and community involvement.

Deller’s approach is notable for its inclusivity—he often collaborates with non-professional participants to produce work that challenges traditional notions of art and authorship.

One of his most significant works is The Battle of Orgreave (2001), a reenactment of the violent 1984 miners' strike confrontation between police and striking miners. The project addressed themes of working-class struggle, historical memory, and the spectacle of violence, raising questions about how history is remembered and represented. This immersive approach to historical events would become a hallmark of Deller’s practice.

Other notable works include English Magic (2013), a politically charged series that critiques British national identity, capitalism, and inequality. Deller’s work often critiques social and political structures while encouraging dialogue and participation. In 2004, he won the Turner Prize for his ability to redefine art's relationship to both the public and its cultural contexts. Deller’s work continues to reflect his belief that art should engage with and speak to the world around it, often offering new ways of understanding the past, present, and future.

For more information on the work of Jeremy Deller go to

https://www.jeremydeller.org

To Support this podcast from as little as £3 per month: www.patreon/ministryofarts

For full line up of confirmed artists go to https://www.ministryofarts.org

Email: [email protected]

Social Media: @ministryofartsorg

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 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/

To Support this podcast from as little as £3 per month: www.patreon/ministryofarts

For full line up of confirmed artists go to https://www.ministryofarts.org

Email: [email protected]

Social Media: @ministryofartsorg

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Gary Mansfield speaks to Ange Bell (@angebellart)

“My work focuses on the themes of origins and belonging and it is this concern that has formed the basis of my practice. Whether collecting and working from found photographs or, as in recent months, working from selfies taken by Instagram users.”

“Through the act of painting I reclaim and invigorates with added permanence and significance, a moment lost in the instant it occurred. Within the portraits there is an echo of that which is lost and sought, it speaks at times to our sense of nostalgia, and at others to our desire to be seen, recognised and valued. The act of retrieving and reviving is at the core of my practice, from the sourcing of material to the process of painting itself.”

“Creating detailed studies in oil, and through a process of working back in to the surface and exploring mark making techniques, I distort, eliminate and manipulate the image to create a visual language. I aim to create a portrait that not only captures a likeness but also has a vibrancy and depth to it as well as the desire to create a painting with which the viewer can establish a point of communication.”

For more information on the work of Ange Bell go to

https://www.angebellart.com

To Support this podcast from as little as £3 per month: www.patreon/ministryofarts

For full line up of confirmed artists go to https://www.ministryofarts.org

Email: [email protected]

Social Media: @ministryofartsorg

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Gary Mansfield speaks to Mr Bingo (@Mr_Bingstagram)

Mr Bingo is an artist, speaker and twat, celebrated for his unique blend of humour and sharp social commentary. Emerging from a background in graphic design, he became widely known for his irreverent hand-drawn postcards that capture the absurdities of modern life. His bold illustrations often feature playful typography and vibrant colours, reflecting his distinctive voice in contemporary art.

One of Mr Bingo’s standout projects is the “Hate Mail” initiative, where he invited fans to send him hate messages, which he then transformed into personalised, humorous artworks. This project not only showcased his creativity but also turned negativity into something positive and engaging, resonating with audiences around the world.

In addition to his illustration work, Mr Bingo has published several books and collaborated with various brands and publications, further expanding his reach in the art community. His pieces often explore themes of relationships, loneliness, and the quirks of human nature, inviting viewers to reflect on their own experiences. Through his engaging style and witty insights, Mr Bingo continues to captivate a diverse audience, making art that is both accessible and thought-provoking, while maintaining a playful edge that is unmistakably his own.

For more information on the work of Mr Bingo go to

https://mr.bingo

To Support this podcast from as little as £3 per month: www.patreon/ministryofarts

For full line up of confirmed artists go to https://www.ministryofarts.org

Email: [email protected]

Social Media: @ministryofartsorg

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In this episode Gary Mansfield speaks to Genevieve Leavold (@genevieveleavold)

“I am a self-taught painter from Somerset UK. I originally trained in Theatre Design specialising in Scenic Painting and prop making. My love for creating immersive spaces informed my approach to painting as I hope to take the viewer into another world, a place of energetic exchange and flow. “

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“I use abstraction to explore concepts of self, and our relationship to the natural world. Taking a meditative approach to my process the paintings are created by layering transparent glazes and opaque marks. There is a vital element of movement in this process: it's physical: using large brushes to lay out the composition of the work and moving with the brushstrokes.”

“I have always loved dance and this deeply informs my practice, I want to take you somewhere in these abstract forms, to a memory or a feeling that sits just out of sight. “

“My paintings are driven by and express a need for harmony, in the movement and the palette I use. There's rhythm in nature and I feel that my unplanned gestures and brushstokes chime with this rhythmic flow. “

For more information on the work of Genevieve Leavold go to

 https://www.genevieveleavold.com/

To Support this podcast from as little as £3 per month: www.patreon/ministryofarts

For full line up of confirmed artists go to https://www.ministryofarts.org

Email: [email protected]

Social Media: @ministryofartsorg

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this bonus episode Gary Mansfield speaks to Constance Anne (@ConstanceAnne.ca) who is showing in the New Art Fair 2024, at the Truman Brewery, London, from 27-29 September 2024

Constance Anne is an artist based in London UK, her artwork celebrates people and personalties.

Her artwork is inspired by people and connection. By the odd mixes of personality, diversity, and life experiences that make us who we are. Her abstract portraits have a focus on the face in a way that plays on facial proportion, features and the body. She shows how things that are perhaps ‘odd’ or ‘weird’ can also be beautifully interesting. Her paintings explore personality and style through the look each can hold. She loves colour, her expressive and vibrant portrait paintings and artworks are a beautiful statement for interiors.

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The Signatures Collection brings abstract minimalist features, with focus on elongation and a particular positioning of the face. Each face has a completely different personality and all are looking to the viewer's right, looking forward, looking on.

The Classics Collection shows the face as an anchor point, that looks back at you and draws you into thinking about where this character may be going or what they may be doing in the surroundings they are painted in. Each personality has a personal theme explored by their surroundings, clothes or background. The Scenes Collection show the person and theme explored by a scene or location they exist in.

The Scenes Collection show the person and theme explored by a scene they are captured in.

Constance grew up in Liverpool Merseyside in the UK (home to The Beatles) where she takes great inspiration. She is half Welsh and day to day she goes by the name Connie.

Constance is currently based in London and is exhibiting throughout the Uk.

From 27-29 September, Constance will be showing their work at the New Artist Fair at in the Truman Brewery, Brick Lane, London, E1 – For more details go to https://www.newartistfair.com/

To Support this podcast from as little as £3 per month: www.patreon/ministryofarts

For full line up of confirmed artists go to https://www.ministryofarts.org

Email: [email protected]

Social Media: @ministryofartsorg

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.