Exhibition into city's 'unique' jungle scene opens

An exhibition exploring the legacy of a city's drum and bass and jungle scene has opened.

This Is Jungle Takeover, which is on show at the Royal West of England Academy (RWA) in Bristol, documents the evolution of jungle music in the city since the late 1980s.

The display highlights Bristol and the south west's early influence on the popularity and growth of the genres in London and across Europe.

Flynn Ites, one of the exhibition's curators and whose stage name is DJ Flynnites, said: "When we got to play outside of Bristol that creative energy, that vibe, travelled. The people of London started catching on to it."

The exhibition showcases album covers, flyers, photographs, memorabilia and collectables from 30 years ago, and celebrates the work of the people who helped build Bristol's drum and bass scene.

Ites said: "There was something going on in Bristol that was different, which was captured in the late 80s early 90s, right up to the 2000s.

"Bristol was a very special, unique bubble back then, pre-internet, where only a few people knew how different and unique Bristol was.

"You had to be really into the music and scene. It gave space for a lot of musicians, artists and people to do their own things."

Kirk Thompson, another curator and whose stage name is DJ Krust, said his brother Gary Thompson came up with the idea for the exhibition

"The obvious people get mentioned but there were a lot of people who contributed to the culture, who should be getting more recognition," he said.

"That's not just the people who made the music, that was also the people in the surrounding cultures like photographers, radio stations, and label owners."

Thompson continued: "We're trying to highlight that, the history, the pioneers, but more from the south west's point of view.

"Not just looking back, but also how we use these tools, ideas and frameworks to look forward into the future and create something for future generations so they can be inspired."

The exhibition is open until 28 June.

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