Month: August 2016

376. Hoxton Square, Shoreditch, London (2)

I couldn’t resist sneaking this wonderful stencil by Unify in during this ‘Upfest lull’. One of my earliest posts was a Unify piece in Bristol, that is as fresh today as the day it was sprayed. I have looked for other pieces by him, but found nothing in Bristol. In London however, his hometown, I have found some of his work.

Unify, Hoxton Square, Shoreditch, London, August 2016
Unify, Hoxton Square, Shoreditch, London, August 2016

This amazing piece that I recall seeing on digital media a little while ago, is obviously a commentary on immigration and probably the Brexit referendum. It is a powerful bit of street art.

Unify, Hoxton Square, Shoreditch, London, August 2016
Unify, Hoxton Square, Shoreditch, London, August 2016

This piece sits quietly next to the wonderful Mr Cenz and Fanakapan pieces that I recently posted here. More to come from Unify soon.

 

 

Memories of a café

 

The Penny Farthing

used to be here; tea and cakes

with my grandmother.

 

by Scooj

375. M32 roundabout J3 (15)

I am enjoying posting about Upfest, but equally, like taking a break to post some of the more ‘earthy’ or visceral graffiti art that Bristol plays host to. Upfest comes and goes…this stuff is the beating heart of the Bristol scene, without which Upfest would possibly have less meaning or context.

Laic217, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2016
Laic217, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2016

This is a typical piece by Laic217 which I photographed a couple of months ago. The characteristic letters of his name and character piece. There appears to be a bit of symbolism going on here as well, an impenetrable wall, behind which lies a heart. There is a story.

Laic217, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2016
Laic217, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2016

I like Laic217’s work but would say that I prefer his full size faces to his burners, but that is only my personal preference. Nice to write about some local artists again.

Queens’ flight

 

In their millions

reminiscent of ash spewed

from a volcano.

 

by Scooj

374. Upfest 2016 (25)

Anyone who reads this blog regularly will know that I am particularly fond of wheatpastes. First it was Kid Crayon that got me interested and then 23 Magpies. More recently I have discovered the magic of Phoebe New York. Always there though, has been the work of D7606 a recent convert to the world of street art. Take time to read this excellent interview with D7606 by London Graffiti Interviews, in which he explains his name and describes his transition into wheatpasting.

D7606, North Street, Upfest, Bristol, July2016
D7606, North Street, Upfest, Bristol, July2016

When D7606 first pasted up this “Twiggy” post box, there was nothing else there, just a clean red box and his Twiggys. By the time I came to photograph it a day later, it was accompanied by no end of stickers…it would seem that a great many sticker enthusiasts enjoy the freedom that Upfest affords. You will spot also that some horns and glasses have been added to the left hand Twiggy.

D7606, North Street, Upfest, Bristol, July2016
D7606, North Street, Upfest, Bristol, July2016

I really like D7606’s work, and have spotted it all over the place so look out for more posts about him coming soon.

Fishing gone

 

Shops come and shops go

I’m sad it’s the tackle shop

where will I get bait?

373. Upfest 2016 (24)

Tucked away in the garden of St Francis Church on North Street were a collection of artists who had prepared their works on boards 1.2m x 1.2m. Lurking here in one of the festival ‘backwaters’ were some wonderful treasures.

Swilfa, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Swilfa, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

This magnificent piece by Swilfa, a London artist, captures Bob Marley really beautifully. What is different about his pieces is that they are created using a combination of acrylic paints and old pieces of vinyl records. If you look carefully you will see that the hair is styled from some 40 vinyl records (according to Swilfa’s Facebook page).

372. Upfest 2016 (23)

Dan Doodies is a street artist, designer, illustrator and painter form the Slough/London area. His piece at Upfest 2016 was one of the most memorable of the whole event. There is a rush of colour in this psychadelic piece that has a whiff of the Beatles and in my mind ELO about it.

Dan Doodies, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Dan Doodies, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

I love this bold and striking piece and somehow it seems to represent all that is best about Upfest bringing artists together from all over the country/world to show off their works. I still feel with every passing day, what a privilege it is to live in Bristol and to have such a vibrant street art culture.

Tiger fur

 

Holiday haircut

“number two please”; my daughter

calls it tiger fur.

 

by Scooj

371. Upfest 2016 (22)

There was so much street art on offer at Upfest, that if you blinked you could miss something. I am so glad I had my camera with me, although on the day I took this photograph, my camera ran out of battery (aaaaargh what an idiot!) so I had to use my phone camera, and the results don’t really do the art justice. This was one of those pieces that was better ‘in the flesh’ but still looks pretty good in this photograph.

Mutiny, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Mutiny, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

The artist is Mutiny (Jane Laurie), a British, London-based,  wildlife illustrator, fine art painter and street artist. Clearly very talented and driven with a desire to raise awareness about endangered wildlife; she uses the hashtag #lovewildlife and signature anatomical heart on all her street art work. Oh! so much great stuff at Upfest.