VANGUARD X VANS / BOMBIN - 24/10/21 @ The Arnolfini
Posted on: 2021-10-28
Our rating:
Bombin’ captures the UK graffiti scene at a pivotal moment
Bombin’ is a docufilm produced and directed by Dick Fontaine. The film is about an artist called “BRIM” (Brim Fuentes) from the South Bronx, New York and his journey starting a new graffiti movement.
BRIM was an adolescent teenager who started producing art from the early age of fifteen. Using his initiative, he would find parts of the town he lived in to “tag” his artwork so it could be easily noticed.
Trains, metro undergrounds, street walls, rundown buildings and underpasses were the places with the most foot traffic, so Brim utilised these spaces to showcase his art.
BRIM’s influence spread across Europe and was praised heavily in the UK which sparked some interest from local papers and art enthusiasts.
Whilst he was in the UK he toured across cities and towns teaching inner city kids the skills and techniques for his craft. While in the country, BRIM was fortunate to be invited to go to an Oxford University fine art lecture to inspire and teach the students there.
During BRIM’s adventures, he met like-minded artists who joined him on his journey emmersing himself in the culture and art of the UK.
One of these artists, a DJ named Afrika Bambaataa, was also touring the UK break dancing and inspiring youth through music. As they were both from New York they already knew each other and organised to meet in Wolverhampton.
Whilst in Wolverhampton, Brim was introduced to an artist who was making waves there - Goldie. Goldie, a musician and graffiti artist, used his influences on the area he lived in to make a name for himself.
As a collective, Brim, Goldie and their associates used their time productively to invite kids to join them in creating art.
Together the influence of art, music and hip-hop culture inspired the kids and gave them hope of a future at a time of crisis for the city due to the Handsworth riots.
REVIEW –
The movie inspired me and allowed me to understand the history of graffiti and the impact it had on art, music and hip-hop culture in the UK.
Dick Fontaine outlined the individuality of each artist and combined their stories effectively to relate to each other.
BRIM said himself that whilst in the UK and getting to know the people he realised the lives of people in the UK and the US were very similar in terms of struggles, hopes and dreams.
The documentary really opened my eyes to the history of the UK art scene and its influences as well as Bristol’s impact on graffiti. As Goldie said in the Q&A afterwards: “graffiti is seen as the bastard child of art, but in fact if you knew how to graffiti first, those skills could be easily transferred into any other style”.
The honour to have Goldie there for a Q&A with the audience about the docufilm he was featured in, was an unforgettable experience. He outlined his experiences, how he started out and where it took him.
His advice for anyone who is thinking of getting into art and looking to showcase themselves and who they are is to “just do it!”.
My overall conclusion of the docufilm is that Dick Fontaine did very well in encapsulating each individual artist's journey and the similarities between the US and UK in terms of influences and hardships. This is definitely something I’d like to watch again.
Big thanks to Arnolfini & Plaster!
Main image: Hannah Atkinson
Article by:
A highly enthusiastic and creative individual who is confident in editing sound and producing content. I consider myself to be a well-equipped, voracious and seasoned audiophile, focused on pushing the boundaries of Marketing, Music and Videography.
