Paul Gorman on Barney Bubbles

Paul Gorman’s lecture explored the life and works of Barney Bubbles, whose identity at birth was Colin Fulcher. Barney Bubbles lived a seemingly ordinary life, growing up in Whitton, South London, and excelling at Grammar school before graduating from Twickenham College of Art and Design. He majored in design and packaging for retail and went on to produce album covers and album art for predominantly 12” vinyls. The name Barney Bubbles derived from the name he used for his hallucinogenic light shows which were projected onto the backdrop behind live bands. He injected coloured oil into coloured liquids in front of projector lights and the shows were called the Barney Bubbles lightshow. From everything that Paul Gorman said, I found the way in which Barney Bubbles remained anonymous the most fascinating aspect of his work. Bubbles never signed his work, therefore never claiming copyright of his designs, but also only ever released one picture of himself, a collage of colourful shapes. His only ever interview took place two years before he committed suicide.

This lecture was rather depressing so I have little to feedback other than that which is already written. I didn’t find the work of Barney Bubbles particularly exciting or astonishing either. On the whole the experience was rather underwhelming.