Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Thursday, October 8, 2009
The Godlike Genius of Barney Bubbles...part one
"Reason's to be Cheerful the life and work of Barney Bubbles", Paul Gorman's long overdue retrospective of designer Barney Bubbles life and huge back catalogue of design work.
Born Colin Fulcher, he blazed a trail through three decades, the 1960's, 70's and 80's with his work, for among others, Terence Conran, OZ and Friends magazine, numerous pop and rock groups and Stiff and Radar records.
He learned his trade at Technical College in Twickenham. Later he created and ran a light show at London underground nightclubs like UFO and Middle Earth. After graduating, Barney Bubbles (one of many pseudonyms) aimed to set up a creative artist's commune in London's Portobello Road area, which at that time was a hot bed of music, politics, drugs and art. It was at this time that Barney got his start in LP (that's long player for all you kids out there) cover art and it is his association with space rockers Hawkwind (also local Ladbroke Grove/Portobello Road residents) that really kick started his career as an LP cover artist.
The covers were as much a part of the Hawkwind experience as the music, with their updated Art Deco and Art Nouveau influences, intricate die cuts and modern typography they were like nothing else at the time. Barney's masterpiece for Hawkwind was the cover design for the live album "Spaceritual"The album folded out into six panels, one side full colour the other grey green duotone.
With the onset of Punk, Barney didn't miss a beat. He cropped his long hippy locks and worked with early signings to the new STIFF label, The Damned and The Adverts, and it was with his work for STIFF records that Barney really matured and amazed as a graphic artist. (more to come)
Born Colin Fulcher, he blazed a trail through three decades, the 1960's, 70's and 80's with his work, for among others, Terence Conran, OZ and Friends magazine, numerous pop and rock groups and Stiff and Radar records.
He learned his trade at Technical College in Twickenham. Later he created and ran a light show at London underground nightclubs like UFO and Middle Earth. After graduating, Barney Bubbles (one of many pseudonyms) aimed to set up a creative artist's commune in London's Portobello Road area, which at that time was a hot bed of music, politics, drugs and art. It was at this time that Barney got his start in LP (that's long player for all you kids out there) cover art and it is his association with space rockers Hawkwind (also local Ladbroke Grove/Portobello Road residents) that really kick started his career as an LP cover artist.
The covers were as much a part of the Hawkwind experience as the music, with their updated Art Deco and Art Nouveau influences, intricate die cuts and modern typography they were like nothing else at the time. Barney's masterpiece for Hawkwind was the cover design for the live album "Spaceritual"The album folded out into six panels, one side full colour the other grey green duotone.
With the onset of Punk, Barney didn't miss a beat. He cropped his long hippy locks and worked with early signings to the new STIFF label, The Damned and The Adverts, and it was with his work for STIFF records that Barney really matured and amazed as a graphic artist. (more to come)
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