Riding West: Robin Clare’s Dancehall-Inspired Western Movie Posters

Words by DJ Theory —

Jamaican-born, Sydney, Australia-based visual artist Robin Clare—check out our last piece with her here—has some fresh new works on the table, in which she continues to explore Jamaican pop culture with a series of large-scale, cinematic images. The unique original prints in her Badder Dan Dem Star series combine stylistic elements inspired by vintage comic books, with signature nods to dancehall culture, imagery and music.

This series specifically references a short-run comic from the 1950’s titled Bulls Eye, which followed the adventures of a Western sharpshooter who also went by the name Bulls Eye. Robin’s choice to focus on Western themes was inspired by early ska and reggae titles referencing Western movies and characters, as well as a love for the similarly Western-inspired Jamaican film, The Harder They Come. For a deeper look at how Cowboys-and-Indians shoot-em-ups have influenced Jamaican music culture, check out our Toppa Top 10 Gunslinger Deejays.

If you’re in the Sydney area, be sure to pass through the opening, at China Heights Gallery, L3, 16-28 Foster St, Surry Hills, Sydney. The show opens Friday Nov. 30, from 6-9pm, and will be on view through Dec. 2. To inquire about prints, contact the artist at: robin@robinclare.com.