THE DYNAMIC BY SEBASTIAN BRUNO [20 APR - 02 JUL 2023]
'The Dynamic' presents the story of Wales’ most distinctive local newspaper, its editors Tony and Julian, and the community they represent as told by the paper’s former staff photographer, Sebastián Bruno.
This local newspaper 'The Dynamic' was first published in Abertillery in May 2015 with a circulation of 5000, and continued to be published regularly for two years.
Behind the newspaper were two men— Tony and Julian, one computer and a printing contract. It was a cultural success but a financial disaster...
With uncompromising vision, the newspaper campaigned to Remain in the EU referendum in the region, Blaenau Gwent, which had the highest Leave vote in Wales.
The short but intense life of the newspaper coincided with some of the most tumultuous years in contemporary British history, marked by the coming of fake news, austerity policies and Brexit.
This exhibition brings together photographs, archive material, film and installation to immerse visitors in Tony and Julian’s universe.

A photobook of 'The Dynamic' has been published by ICVL to coincide with the exhibition and is available from the MPF online shop here.

About the photographer:
'It was September 2015 and Clémentine and I had just arrived in Abertillery, a former mining town in the South Wales Valleys. We found a place to live on Alma Street, a two-bedroom flat above Perfect Image.
The rent was £365 a month (bills not included), with a pay-as-you-go meter for gas and electricity.
Spacious and fairly light, just a three-minute walk from the high street.
It took precisely 7 minutes to walk the length of the town centre. In those seven minutes, I counted 4 coffee shops: Hector’s Cozy Cafe, the Coffee Shop, Coffee Bean and Deja Brew, and the all-important ‘Chippy’.
The other stores included a ubiquitous Gregg’s, Darth Vaper, Pawfection Pets and Karon’s fashion. And the town’s five pubs: the Rolling Mill, the Somerset Hotel, the Bear, Commercial and ‘Spoons.

I first stepped into ‘Spoons on a Tuesday afternoon, and the place was buzzing, as it was 'steak day', £5.90 for a pint, steak and chips.
I approached the bar. There were 6 people in front of me and only one person serving. Laying on the bar, was a copy of a newspaper that someone had used to mop the slops from an overflowing pint. "The Abertillery and Ebbw Valleys Dynamic: Your Free Local Paper" was… unconventional!
It was unclear where one article ended and another began, and I had never seen a publication with a column called 'Sheep of the Week', a mix of current political affairs and agriculture.
I was gripped... The barmaid directed me to 17 High Street: "Just ask for Julian, love!".

Leaning against the window was a handmade sign 'Dynamic Newspaper'.
The office was unusual, to say the least. Inside were two desks, two chairs, a stopped clock, and two filing cabinets.
There were stacks of newspapers and on top of them an overflowing bin.
Instant cappuccino sachets were littered around a kettle...and more newspapers.
On the wall was a sign: "Everybody is welcome to this office. Some when they enter, others when they leave".

Dozing behind one of the desks, surrounded by heaps of crumpled notes, old cigarette butts and books was Julian Meek, the Editor in Chief. Sat at the opposite desk was Sports & Business Editor and financier Tony Flatman.
Between the two of them, they had managed to write, publish and distribute a 16-page fortnightly newspaper, since May 2015.
Once the introductions were over, with little hesitation, I announced: "I want to become the Dynamic’s photographer". [¬ sebastianbruno.com/THE-DYNAMIC-1]

Somewhat talkative, modest, and often dressed in baggy sweaters; anyone who met Martin Parr would not quickly suspect that this tall Englishman was one of the most influential photographers in the world. Not only was he internationally renowned for his humorous work, he also gave great prestige to the
genre of the photobook.
The versatile Parr, who was called the pope of photography, passed away Saturday at the age of 73.