Gianluca Costantini on Political Comics and Ai Weiwei

Gianluca Costantini (Ravenna, 1971), known for his political illustrations used in social campaigns, is featured in Artribune's new magazine. In an interview, he discusses his latest comic dedicated to Ai Weiwei and the role of drawing in journalism. Costantini began drawing in his fourth year at art school, with his first works published in the 1990s. Around 2004, his style shifted toward reality, focusing on politics and human rights for over twenty years. His minimalist vignettes address events like anti-Erdogan protests, Giulio Regeni, and Patrick Zaki. He aims to tell ignored stories and give voice to the voiceless, using art as a tool for denunciation. His focus evolved from society to the individual losing freedom. He believes images can make complex stories more accessible and empathetic, breaking language barriers. The comic "Zodiac" (published in Italy by Oblomov, co-written with Elettra Stamboulis) explores Ai Weiwei's life and resistance against totalitarianism, with each Chinese zodiac animal representing aspects of his life. For Artribune, Costantini created an unpublished comic about He Youzhi, a Chinese drawer introduced to him by Ai Weiwei, whose dry and powerful line influenced his work. Costantini considers He Youzhi's influence a form of teaching despite never meeting him.