Made In Bris (2025)

A Solo Exhibition by Izaak Brandt

Made In Bris explores the male millennial experience of growing up in Bristol, UK. At its core is a new ensemble performance, directed and performed by Brandt, alongside a collective of dancers and MCs who bring their own voices and lived experiences to the stage. Together, they channel the raw energy of Breaking and the lyrical force of MCing—two foundational elements of Hip-Hop culture—to reflect on identity, memory, and masculinity through movement and sound.

The performance opens with a DJ set by Wilfy D and evolving sound design by Magnus Brandt, layering familiar sonic textures from local events like St Pauls Carnival—a Caribbean celebration held in the neighbourhood where Brandt spent his teenage years. Minirig, the speaker brand synonymous with his youth, sponsors the show, nodding to the Dub sound systems of carnival, where clashes of Dub, Dubstep, Drum and Bass, and Hip-Hop filled the evening air.

Sculptures populate the space: new Freeze works, crafted from cardboard—the busker’s floor—curl into protective cocoons, shielding themselves in bodily wraps and averting the gaze of onlookers. Alongside them, Ghost Sculptures hang in powder-coated steel frames—hand-drawn PLA forms that preserve objects of memory from Brandt’s upbringing, steeped in Hip-Hop and street culture.

Fresh BBQ by OG’s Pot and drinks supplied by The Bristol Rum Company tie the event together, grounding the experience in local flavour and community spirit. These elements evoke the energy of a street festival—where food, music, and culture come together in celebration. It’s a space of joy and release during the day, but one that carries the tension of Bristol’s nightlife—where the warmth of the crowd can give way to flickers of violence as night falls. This duality mirrors the lived experiences explored in Made In Bris—moments of collective joy shadowed by the realities of growing up in an environment charged with both rhythm and risk.