'The Host' is a character I created specifically for my Degree Show. It was supposed to walk around interacting with the audience and other artists' pieces during the opening night - almost in a Disneyland-like way. Unfortunately, I was only able to wear it for a photoshoot with Johann Kööp. All photos are credited to him.

'the host' (2020)

'so... this happened' (2018) is a short film of me painting my second year University studio and reflecting on embracing our more childish, raw instincts.

This action - of a young adult caving into his most childish wishes - was about breaking the norm of the four-white-walled space and build a new space of creation, invention and inspiration. A feel-good, feel-embraced space.

'so... this happened' (2018)

By default, I am unable to stay still, doing nothing. During a period of lockdown/quarantine I definitely had a lot of time to do that - nothing.

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'artist-in-resilience' was a self-initiated as well as self-funded home residency ‘programme’ I came up with to prevent the inevitable inertia during quarantine/lockdown times. Working from home was definitely a challenge, but thankfully I am more than used to working with found materials!

'artist-in-resilience - artistic home residency' (2020)

Consisting of a group of impermanent forms that have a life of their own, senses (2019) is a series of five sculptures/performance costumes that explore the personification and embodiment of the five human senses: sight, touch, hearing, smell and taste.

These are DIY colourful cartoon-like three-dimensional characters made from all kinds of cheap materials and found objects. They represent the basic elements through which we are able to understand and perceive the world and our surroundings.


'senses' (2019)

'a cabinet of wonders and a living room' (2020) was my Degree Show final piece. Unfortunately, due to its cancellation, the project had to be reimagined to fit the virtual/online reality.

A ‘cabinet of wonders’ is the 16th-century term for a room that collects diverse worlds (objects) – both real and imaginary. The original 'cabinet' I aimed to create, grows exactly from this idea, although it resides in the 21st century. It is primarily a reflection of my experience of childhood.

We have all had different experiences as children – some better than others. However, everyone shares one single concept of ‘childhood’; what it is and what it means. When entering this (physical/psychological) 'space' we are offered the possibility to be reminded of just that.

There is something weirdly familiar about a particular colour or shape, a sound or a situation. Hopefully, while entranced by voices, melodies and strange characters the fact that we are ‘adults’ (or ‘grown-ups’) inserted in a somewhat ‘childish’ reality would slowly sink in as we were left wondering ‘whatever happened to this self?’.

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Rodrigo Costa