Month: April 2018

1404. Jardins de les Tres Xemeneies, Barcelona (1)

This is the first of my posts from an Easter trip to Barcelona with my daughter. Although it was not a street art hunting break, I managed to come across some great spots thanks entirely to the great advice and help from Lewis Duncan, author of the excellent ‘No Grey Walls‘ WordPress site, to whom I am indebted.

I do not pretend to know anything about the artists in this collaboration and Lewis writes much more authoritatively about this piece in his own recent post about it, so I will direct you there for more detailed information. Instead I will leave you with some pretty pictures to look at. If I knew this spot better, I would know to come at a different time of day, as the sun was behind the wall making photography a little challenging.

Christian Blanxer, Jardins de les Tres Xemeneies, Barcelona, March 2018
Christian Blanxer, Jardins de les Tres Xemeneies, Barcelona, March 2018

The left hand side of the collaboration is by Christian Blanxer.

Saturno, Jardins de les Tres Xemeneies, Barcelona, March 2018
Saturno, Jardins de les Tres Xemeneies, Barcelona, March 2018

The middle section is by Saturno

Erase, Jardins de les Tres Xemeneies, Barcelona, March 2018
Erase, Jardins de les Tres Xemeneies, Barcelona, March 2018

The right hand section by Erase.

The collaboration really is a treat, and one of the best pieces I saw in Barcelona – I’m just so glad that I timed my visit to perfection.

Christian Blanxer, Saturno and Erase, Jardins de les Tres Xemeneies, Barcelona, March 2018
Christian Blanxer, Saturno and Erase, Jardins de les Tres Xemeneies, Barcelona, March 2018

1403. Upfest 2017 (160).

There is an interesting story to this collaboration ‘Girl and Death’ in so much as it was not a planned collaboration at all…it just kind of happened. How do I know this? I discovered it on the Instagram feed of one of the artists involved, Nino Werner:

‘After a night of crazy partying, we started this painting with no real direction first & just enjoyed the fun show that is Bristol Streetart Festival called @upfest . What first started as two separate pieces merged together in the process when we got to know the very talented fella (Luke) next to our dedicated painting spot, who was also painting in black and white, but also added gold. We like shiny things so we grabbed some golden paint and made the separate artworks merge together. The painting is either a reference to a sketch of famous Norwegian artist Edvard Munch (also called Girl and Death) or the fun party night and the hangover David had the next day when we painted it.‘

It is always great to get a bit of insight from the artists themselves.

Nino Werner, Javi, David Schumann, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Nino Werner, Javi, David Schermann, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

The girl on the left of the collaboration is by Nino Werner, Javi and David Schermann, who I believe visited Upfest from Austria. And on the right of the piece is an intricate skull in black white and gold by Luke Gray.

Nino Werner, Javi, David Schumann and Luke Grey, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Nino Werner, Javi, David Schermann and Luke Gray, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

Luke Gray has a fabulous website which is well worth a visit. His biography states that he is from the UK and is a nomadic surrealist symbolist painter. He was born colour blind and works in an almost exclusively black and white pallette, using patterns and textures rather than colours.

A fine accidental collaboration.

 

1402. Upfest 2017 (159)

This, slightly unfinished, piece by Envol presents visitors to Upfest with something very different from the usual fare served up.  His work is best described by his entry in the Upfest programme:

‘Envol paints realism fused with experimental, Deco era inspired designs and a touch of neoclassicism. His ethereal yet bold compositions are crafted with a mission to delight senses.’

Envol, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Envol, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

Everything abut this piece oozes class and the style ensures it stands out from the crowd. I don’t know much about the artist, but a quick trawl through Google came up with some magnificent work from this artist.

 

 

 

Bumble bee

.

Humble bumble bee

not yet properly awake

stuttering flight path.

.

by Scooj

1401. Upfest 2017 (158)

There was so much great street art at Upfest 2017, it has been difficult to try and post ass much as I possibly can. This is a lovely piece by Hide2 which was at the Ashton Gate site, and in common with my other posts from there, the piece is not quite complete in these photographs.

Hide2, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Hide2, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

On his visit for the festival, he left a nice ‘gift’ in Wilder Street which I wrote about back in August – it seems strange to now only be posting his official Upfest piece.

Hide2, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Hide2, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

His work here is absolutely brilliant, both the portrait and writing are sensational.

Hide2, Wilder Street, Bristol, August 2017
Hide2, Wilder Street, Bristol, August 2017

Oystercatcher

 

Rockpooling alone

and ‘peet peeweet’ on the breeze

sweet sounds of my past.

 

by Scooj

1400. Upfest 2017 (157)

Last year at Upfest there were many black and white/greyscale pieces, of which this was probably one of the best that used contrast to its best advantage. The strong blacks and whites on the grey background really lift the design out from the surface, and I think this is a really accomplished piece.

Drojan, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Drojan, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

This was one of two pieces by the Drojan at the festival, and I hope I have left enough time to feature his other one in a post before Upfest 2018 catches up with me.

Drojan, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Drojan, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

I know little about the artist (there was no entry for him in the programme), but this short video made by a visitor to Upfest 2017 shows him paining this piece, in the video he reveals he is from Venezuela, emphasising the incredible international reach of this festival. Already getting very excited for July.

1399. Upfest 2017 (156)

I absolutely love this piece for many reasons. Firstly, it taps in to my love of fishing and is one of several angling-related pieces at Upfest 2017. Secondly, the cartoon style is really unusual and quirky…it has a great many similarities with the style of Bristol’s own Sepr, which in my view is a really good thing.

Mariojin, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Mariojin, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

Mariojin, the artist, comes from Milan in Italy and in the picture above it looks like there might be an element of collaboration going on.

Mariojin, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Mariojin, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

Apart from Mariojin’s fabulous website which shows off some great work, I don’t know too much about the artist beyond what is in his Programme notes for Upfest:

‘Mariojin grew up in the outskirts of Milano, where the cohabitation of different cultures offers inspiration to the first movements of the Milan writing. He develops the passion for drawing and colours since childhood, inspired at first by his aunt’s canvas, artist and teacher, and subsequently, from the garish colours, forms and dimensions of Graffiti’s world. Attracted by this world he begins to paint with sprays at the end of the 90s. He is Member of Nuclear1 crew, which organizes an important graffiti jam “Meeting of Styles” Italy since 2014. He paints using a mix of influences between illustration and graffiti.‘

Goldcrest

 

This smallest of birds

restless, flits from tree to tree;

see the yellow flash.

 

by Scooj

 

  • Sweet joy…I saw one of these in the garden this morning.

1398. Upfest 2017 (155)

Andrew Burns Colwill is a great Bristol artist and one who has championed  environmental awareness vigorously in recent years, particularly with his 20:50 vision pieces. At Upfest 2017 he really excelled himself with this magnificent polar bear sitting on what at first appears to be a piece of ice, but which is actually a pick up truck floating in a sea of plastic.

Andrew Burns Colwill, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Andrew Burns Colwill, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

His ongoing commentary on the destruction of our planet, and visions of what it might look like in 2050 results in a series of haunting images, of which this is one. A prophet of what might be, if we don’t pull our fingers out and get things sorted. Andrew Burns Colwill, like many others in the environmental movement, has been talking about plastic for some time…at last it feels like the government is listening.

Andrew Burns Colwill, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Andrew Burns Colwill, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

This is one of the best pieces of the 2017 festival, and the good news I understand is that it is here to stay. The Coopers Arms pub, where this piece can be found, will be keeping it. ABC’s fine art pedigree shine through in this work and he is truly the king of murals in Bristol. I salute you.

Andrew Burns Colwill, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Andrew Burns Colwill, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017