Clearance

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It isn’t easy

sifting through another’s life;

once loved, discarded.

.

by Scooj

1538. Upfest 2017 (171)

Wheatpasting is not as popular in Bristol as it is in other parts of the country, so it is a real treat at Upfest, when a (whatever the collective noun for wheatpasters is) descend on the city and cover just about every utility box with paste ups. Foremost among them is Face the Strange.

Face the Strange, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Face the Strange, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

Most of his work has reasonably everyday scenes of people looking like models from a catalogue but with something weird obscuring their face. Face the Strange was going through a fruit phase during Upfest 2018.

Face the Strange, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Face the Strange, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

However he is not a ‘one trick pony’ and this fun piece has a hamburger for a head. I love the Burger King packaging rip-off with his name in the ‘sandwich’. Things are good when FtS is in town.

Exeter Racecourse

.

Swallows hug the turf

darting with great precision

past rails and fences.

.

by Scooj

1537. Dean Lane skate park (132)

One of the great joys of trawling through my archives is finding pieces that were never posted because the artist was unknown to me. Fast forward to the present day and I have since discovered the talent and feel like I know a little more. So it was with this old one from Tash Bee back in July 2017.

Tasha Bee, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2017
Tasha Bee, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2017

I liked the piece enough to photograph it, but then it sat dormant in my archive until now. Liberation. It is signed with a large B, but I didn’t know that was her signature back then. This is another serene piece beautifully put together by an artist who is fast rising up the tables of my Bristol faves. Same about the evening sun and shadow.

1536. M32 Spot (20)

Right underneath the M32 in the middle of the DIY skate Park which is used by skaters in Bristol when it rains, is this unusual piece by an artist I’ve not come across before, KiKi. At least I think the signature is KiKi, and until I know any better that is what I shall call her/him. As you can see I haven’t been able to research the artist at all yet.

KiKi?, M32 Spot, Bristol, May 2018
KiKi?, M32 Spot, Bristol, May 2018

I really love the piece, both the style of it and the subject matter. It looks like some kind of sea monster, although not too scary. What I especially like is how skilfully the artist has used the difficult space that the column affords. Stylistically the piece is also really interesting, almost seeming to have a native North American look to it (or maybe that is just me). Anyhow I am looking forward to seeing a lot more from this artist. Bravo.

1535. Dean Lane skate park (131)

This is an old one in Dean Lane skater park from Stupid Stupid Meathole, which I didn’t post at the time because I didn’t know who it was by.  He creates these potentially sinister monsters, but takes away any menace by adding something comical to them. His characters actually become rather sweet really – it must be those big eyes.

Stupid Stupid Meathole, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2017
SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURESStupid Stupid Meathole, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2017

I do like his work. He chooses his colours well and I like then way he scribbles his shading, for example on the teeth of this monster, which give ther whole thing a sense of animation. I’m always on the look out for his work and I think I have some in my archives which I’ll try and dig out.

1534. Brunel Way bridge (8)

This piece is actually not really on Brunel Way, but is in the Cumberland Basin where the Brunel Way bridge/flyover begins. And who should pop up here but Pekoe, who until a couple of weeks ago was completely under my radar.

Pekoe, Brunel Way bridge, Bristol, June 2018
Pekoe, Brunel Way bridge, Bristol, June 2018

This piece, in doodle style, is actually really nicely presented and has a great balance of bright colours and squiggle elements to make up a fine portrait. I am new to her work, but I am enjoying what I see and look forward to finding more of her pieces in Bristol.

1533. Brunel Way bridge (7)

I love, love, love this collaboration piece by Face 1st and Tash Bee. Totally understated and beautifully sprayed on a concrete column under Brunel Way, this piece is tucked away and pretty much out of view. There is a serenity about the piece that works so very well, and the setting is just a perfect way to frame the piece.

Face 1st and Tasha Bee, Brunel Way bridge, Bristol, June 2018
Face 1st and Tasha Bee, Brunel Way bridge, Bristol, June 2018

I don’t know how long these two have been collaborating for, but there have been a spate of their joint pieces cropping up all over the place just recently. For me, this is the best yet. Their use of colour and form is similar, but each has a very distinctive look. The top section is by Face 1st and beneath it is a superb styalized portrait by Tash Bee. I have met neither of these artists, but it I keep looking, it is just a matter of time.

A happy find.

Girl with a pierced eardrum

 

Serenely you gaze

across the floating harbour

when you catch my eye.

 

by Scooj

 

Photograph taken with a compact zoom from the other side of the floating harbour. Street art by Banksy.

1532. River Avon

Regular readers will have seen an awful lot of this little fella in recent months and I make no apologies for that. Of all the bunnies that NEVERGIVEUP has painted around the city of Bristol I think that this one is my favourite to date.

NEVERGIVEUP, River Avon, Bristol, July 2018
NEVERGIVEUP, River Avon, Bristol, July 2018

It can be found on a random bit of brick wall, probably a derelict store room or something, on the footpath between Ashton Avenue Bridge and Brunel Way bridge alongsite the River Avon. I love it when Graffiti (a rather urban concept) blends in so perfectly with a rural setting. This is just brilliant.