I exaggerate
although decaffeinated
doesn’t really count.
by Scooj
Month: January 2018
1259. Upfest 2017 (123)
I first came across these two artists, Caro Pepe and Age Age at Upfest 2016 when they had adjacent pieces on North Street. Since then (and possibly before, I don’t know) they have collaborated quite a lot at festivals around Europe.
It was so good to see them at Upfest 2017 collaborating not only on their ‘official’ wall, but also on this shutter and another wall (yet to be posted). This particular shutter has been home to some amazing artwork previously, and Caro Pepe and Age Age have continued that tradition.
The pair have once again used muted shades for their Upfest experience which gives this piece a subtle feel. It is amazing that their work blends so well because their styles and subject matter are quite different – maybe their success comes from blending these. Anyhow, this was a real treat and many visitors would have missed it, as I think it was sprayed in the days following the main festival. Thank you both.
1258. Upfest 2017 (122)
I think that this was probably the most photographed wall at Upfest 2017. It is certainly one of the best, if not the best, spot at the festival and this time it was given a magnificent makeover by Kobra.
It is a fascinating rendition of John Lennon in the style so typical of Kobra, using geometric shapes and contrasting colours as an overlay to the portrait. As a strong statement in street art, this piece is exceptional, and pretty much stole the show amongst the visiting public. I have only one slight uncertainty about the piece and that is the relevance of John Lennon to Bristol – but perhaps I am being a little parochial about this.
Many of the visitors who came to the festival would not have seen this piece without the cherry-picker parked in front of it, which wasn’t removed until the Monday or Tuesday after the event, which is a real pity.
Since seeing this piece, tmy first by Kobra, I was lucky enough to come across a couple more in Williamsburg, New York, which I hope to post here if I ever get through my growing backlogs.
Make no mistake though the scale and nature of this piece make it a real winner, a stunner and a must-see wall if you happen to visit Bristol, before it goes this July.
Thursday doors
Door 16.
Door, Moon Street, Bristol.
The artist who has tagged this door is called Ryder, and this is his shorthand that he sprays quickly as something of an elaborate tag. His writing work though is exceptional, see some examples below. The door itself is a little-used side door which accesses the Lakota club.
See more doors at Thursday Doors – Norm 2.0
1257. Upfest 2017 (121)
It has been a little while since I last posted anything from Upfest 2017. I would guess I am about half way through my archive of photographs but am unlikely to write up every piece from the festival before this year’s festival begins. C’est la vie.
This piece is a hugely entertaining and bold work from Boe and Irony, who worked so well together at Upfest 2016 with their cat and mouse work on the side of a residential building just off North Street.
Gulls are a very common sight in Bristol, and this huge portrait of a gull peering around the corner so perfectly captures the cheeky nature of these birds, and is in keeping with the City.
The artists took a while to complete the piece and it wasn’t actually until a few days after the festival that it was completed. It was so utterly worth the waiting though, this was one of the highlights of Upfest 2017, a real triumph. I hope the artists will be back this year to give us yet another mouth watering morsel.
Lunch
Tinged with a little
sadness that my toastie’s gone;
it was delicious.
by Scooj
1256. Stokes Croft corner wall (4)
On one of the most iconic walls in Bristol, there are always things to look out for around the large yellow and black Stinkfish face of a girl. One reasonably recent addition is this incredible bust (if that is the right term). Unfortunately I don’t know who the artist is, but it is a beautiful addition to this space.
I don’t come across very many sculptures on my Bristol street art sorties, so it was a real pleasure to find this. It is perched high up, and I’m not sure that it is seen by many. You have to look up and observe.
Up close you can see that it is a nicely worked piece. Any ideas about the artist would be most welcome.
Pogues on the bus
Gritty urban folk
reminder of student days
of pubs, bars and clubs.
by Scooj
1255. Leonard Lane (14)
Leonard Lane is one of my favourite spots. somehow it feels more exclusive than some of the other more popular spots, and it is tucked away in the deepest heart of old Bristol. The Lane has become more popular with ‘established’ artists in recent weeks, with both Decay and John D’oh making themselves at home in this narrow space.
Now it is the turn of Skor85 and this curious piece. What I like about her work is its dream-like stories that unfold in front of you. This one involves two people rather happy about something and high fiving. Meanwhile, the lady with her bunny ballet outfit brandishes a cutlass and the man is holding a dead rabbit. What on earth… . It doesn’t matter. I love this piece, which is nicely framed too. It would be great to see more of this kind of work in the heavily tagged lane.
Modern diaspora
Work space reduction
and remote technology…
W.F.H.
by Scooj
*WFH = Work from home.
Natural adventures 