Dondada breaking barriers with Jamaican AR art

Self-taught digital artist Bonito Thompson stands as a trailblazer, seamlessly blending augmented reality (AR) with the vibrancy of Jamaican dancehall culture.

The Pepsi-Cola Jamaica Spotlight Videocast series, hosted by Chad Luchey, had a moment to speak with the 'Don Dada' of three-dimensional art.

A pioneer of Jamaican AR artistry, Dondada's work captures the pulse of Caribbean life and the vibrant rhythms of dancehall culture, including sound systems, zinc fences, dance moves, and other iconic dancehall imagery.

Dondada's art transcends the canvas -- it's a bridge between tradition and innovation, inviting audiences to immerse themselves in a world where culture meets technology.

Within his creations, you can see references to iconic moments from Jamaican culture - such as T he Harder They Come, starring the legendary Jimmy Cliff, alongside intricate portrayals of sound systems and animated dancing figures.

"The first-ever augmented reality collection done in the island was the Dondada show, that was like two years ago during COVID-19 - it was 10 pieces. It was all about dancehall culture; sound systems, zinc fence, the party scene, dancehall queens, that type of energy," he recalled passionately.

Dondada's journey with AR initially began by utilising stop-motion techniques in his art.

"It was a case where I was thinking I want these pieces to feel like they have movement. You know, sometimes you look at some artworks and it looks like it's in motion," he explained.

SOCIAL MEDIA

However, sensing that there was much more beyond this method, and after subsequent research, he arrived at the use of AR art within the social media space.

The art incorporates AR tech through QR codes, enabling a dynamic, interactive experience where the digital and physical worlds converge with just the scan of a smart device.

The integration of AR into his art did not come without its challenges. The newness of the technology presented a learning curve, both for the artist and the audience.

According to Dondada, he navigated this by advocating simplicity and accessibility.

"It requires some education, as with all new tech; and so what we've been doing on the Dondada page and all of our platforms is just driving that message, talking about how simple and how easy [AR] is. And because it's done on social media platforms, the onboarding process is very direct," he elaborated.

A highlight of Dondada's artistic career is his current collaboration with Pepsi-Cola Jamaica for its 'Blast Your JamaICAN Flava' campaign, where he has designed and painted murals capturing the campaign's essence.

For Dondada, he believes his role in this campaign is to "reframe the narrative", to ignite inspiration among fellow creatives and demonstrate that achieving success in the world of art is entirely possible.

"I hope that by being a part of this campaign and repping my unique 'Flava', I'm able to inspire other creatives out there and have them know that you, too, can be successful," he declared.

Dondada plans to continue to push boundaries, exploring new horizons in art and technology. With upcoming solo projects and collaborations, he remains dedicated to crafting immersive experiences that celebrate Jamaican culture.

Embarking on a journey to showcase extraordinary Jamaican talent, Pepsi-Cola Jamaica proudly introduces the Spotlight Videocast series. This dynamic platform unfolds the stories of individuals pushing boundaries and expressing their unique 'JamaICAN Flava'.

A 15-minute escapade into the lives of these exceptional Jamaicans is now available on Pepsi Jamaica's Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram pages.