Bristol exhibition explores 30 years of Jungle culture

This Is Jungle Takeover explores the 30-year evolution at the Royal West of England Academy (RWA).

Date published: 12th Jun 2026

This Is Jungle is the latest addition to the Royal West of England Academy (RWA) in Bristol, showcasing the 30-year evolution of jungle in Bristol. The immersive takeover explores the city's early drum 'n' bass and jungle scenes from the late '80s, with displays including album covers, flyers, photographs, and memorabilia which celebrate the artists who helped craft the genre.

The exhibition stemmed from Kirk Thompson, AKA DJ Krust, and Flynn Ites, AKA Flynnites, alongside Gary Thompson, the co-author of The Art and Sound of the Bristol Underground. Highlighting the pioneering work of Full Cycle Records, Independent Dealers, More Rockers and the Ruff Neck Ting Crew.

One of the exhibition curators Kirk Thompson, spoke about it, saying, "The obvious people get mentioned, but there were a lot of people who contributed to the culture, who should be getting more recognition. 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."

He 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 also has a Listening Lab Session, which will take place tomorrow (13th June) from 5.30M to 7:30 PM. Hosted and moderated by Bristol pioneers Krust and Flynnites. Alongside having panellists DJ Dazee and Dr Meaker, the session will explore the records that have shaped their careers, from early classic tracks through to exclusive dubplates.

This Is Jungle is free to attend and available to view until Sunday, 28th June. You can find more information here.

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Header image credit: RWA Bristol