I thought I’d kick off Upfest 2018 with one of the highlight walls of the festival which speaks volumes to me (a marine biologist by training), and really brightened things up.
One of the less celebrated, but nonetheless special, walls at Upfest is this side street, Mount Pleasant Terrace, just off North Street. Previous occupiers of this wall have been Sokar Uno (2016) and My Dog Sighs and Snub 23 (2017), so it has a great pedigree. This year the mural went big, spreading beyond the first floor and covering the entire end of row wall.

At first glance it might not be obvious that this is a Louis Masai piece, but a closer inspection gives away some of the tell tale signs, such as a patchwork turtle, and of course a signature!

I was pretty spaced out at the festival, absorbing so much visual information but not really seeing things right in front of me – sensory overload if you like. I didn’t take a proper look at the wall until the scaffolding was down a couple of days later and then it hit me, this is a brilliant piece by Louis Masai.

There is so much to look at in this coral reef scene, but of course it comes with an environmental message, and there floating around the reef are a couple of Tesco bags, which once seen can’t be unseen.

I love the way that he entered into the spirit of the Simpsons theme of the festival and presented us with a cartoon mutant fish with three eyes gawkily cruising across the reef. Some serious messages interspersed with a bit of fun. A great piece to start with. Hats off to Louis Masai.
Really great mural and message to kick off the round up. I really like the addition of the Tesco bags floating around, a really good visual queue for British people. I saw my First LM piece ‘in the flesh’ recently in Berlin, incredibly good.
LikeLiked by 1 person
He is amazing, and fast too. There are several of his pieces in Bristol, each of them fantastic.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is a marvellous mural; so bright and colourful, and well executed. On top of all that it has a message too! And I love the little 3 eyed fish. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
He is exceptional.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I saw him painting this on four of the five days it took him to complete, just an incredibly humble and all round nice guy . . . and the finished piece is absolutely stunning . . .
LikeLiked by 1 person
I watched him for a little while on the Sunday. He was chatting with several people, he was making time for them all.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Most of the time he had his headphones on so wasn’t responsive but on the last day he was visibly more relaxed and chatty lol . . .
LikeLiked by 1 person
WOW! A real Masterpiece!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree.
LikeLiked by 1 person