No Comment

Co-curated by Jeremy Deller & John Costi

1 November – 15 December 2024
Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre

Koestler Arts’ 17th annual exhibition of artwork from the criminal justice system is back at Southbank Centre this autumn, featuring over 200 artworks entered into the 2024 Koestler Awards, from prisons, secure hospitals, secure children’s homes and immigration removal centres, as well as those on probation, community sentences and youth offending teams.

This year, we invited Turner Prize winner Jeremy Deller and former prisoner-turned-artist John Costi to co-curate the exhibition. Both artists have a long-standing relationship with Koestler Arts: Deller has supported the charity as an Awards judge for over 15 years, giving prizes to, and writing feedback for, artworks entered into the programme; while Costi started as an award-winning entrant before becoming a mentee, scholar, member of staff, Awards judge and now curator.

Both Deller and Costi’s involvement with Koestler Arts and work in the criminal justice sector is reflected in the design of the exhibition. Visitors will experience artworks that focus on the realities of life in prison- some artworks touch upon the idea of experiencing a lack of voice and finding a way to overcome this in a challenging environment, mirroring the title of the exhibition, No Comment. Further into the space, a smaller section of artworks celebrates finding art and the role art classes and education can play, which Deller has contributed to over the years by giving workshops and talks in secure settings. Here, visitors can also read about Costi’s own experience of engaging in art programmes while in prison, and the impact this had on him. Finally, the largest section of the space is given to artworks that reflect the freedom of expression that comes with engaging with the arts, and celebrate the boundlessness of the imagination. Therefore, as you move through the exhibition you follow a representative journey: from feeling restricted and voiceless to finding a sense of freedom beyond the environment through creativity; a journey Deller has seen and one that Costi has lived.

Deller and Costi also introduced a collaborative aspect to the exhibition, by inviting six guests to choose a selection of artworks to be on display among their own selections: Abbas Zahedi, Aindrea Emelife, Larry Achiampong, Dr Nicholas Cullinan OBE, Jonny Banger and Zakia Sewell. As creatives with different roles in the art world, the guests brought in different viewpoints and choices of artworks to the exhibition. To celebrate their curatorial approach and their guests’ involvement, Deller and Costi asked Koestler Awards entrants to create portraits of each curator and guest involved. A selection of these portraits are on display in the entrance of the space.

Opening Times & Closures:

Please check for updates on opening times and closures when planning your visit.

Mon: 10am – 5.30pm

Tue – Wed: 10am – 8pm

Thur: 10am – 5pm (with late opening on 12 Dec until 8pm)

Fri – Sun: 10am – 8pm

Please note, the exhibition will be closed on Monday 18th November.

Exhibition Tours:

Free exhibition tours by Koestler tour guides, some of whom have personal experience of the criminal justice system, will be available for the public at set times (listed below) in the main exhibition space.

Weds: 2pm & 6pm *except Wednesday 13 November*
Fri: 6pm
Sat & Sun: 3pm & 4pm

Free. No booking required.
Please contact sarah@koestlerarts.org.uk to book additional tours outside of these times or if you plan to bring a large group.

Watch

Find out more about our co-curators, Jeremy Deller and John Costi, and their longstanding relationships with the charity in our exhibition film.

The film is also available to view in the exhibition space!

Watch here

Listen

Listen to the music and spoken word featured in this year’s exhibition, played through headphones in the exhibition space.

Age recommendation: 18+ (May contain language some people might find upsetting)

Listen here

Artwork for sale

Some artists with work on display in the exhibition have chosen to sell their work, which is available to purchase from our online shop.

There is also a selection of smaller artworks, merchandise and books for sale at the pop-up shop in the exhibition space.

Buy artwork!