Month: October 2018

1800. City Road (9)

Oh I wish I had got to this piece before it was partially ruined by the chrome throw ups. At least they had the decency to leave the face intact. This is yet another gorgeous piece by Face 1st , whose work is reaching a new level both in terms of quality and quantity. One can barely move for new pieces.

Face 1st, City Road, Bristol, October 2018
Face 1st, City Road, Bristol, October 2018

I particularly like this one for its overall pleasing shape and colours, but it is the attention to detail on the background that I really like in that autumn brown. It is a nice gesture too that he includes a little ‘Happy Birthday Eleanor’ in the top right – I love it when street artists do this.

I met up with Face 1st last Friday and bought three small pieces from him and I am so utterly chuffed with them. I will be giving one to Scoojette for Christmas and I can’t wait. More fantastic work from this lovely artist to come.

1799. St Werburghs tunnel (46)

With his style so unlike anything else in Bristol, it is easy to pick out Object…’s work wherever he places it. This piece in St Werburghs tunnel features a distorted humanoid monster – a thing of nightmares – doing something, although I’m not too sure what. As with all his work Object… has a real sense of physiology and plays with proportions and muscles and limbs – the art of the possible.

Object..., St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2018
Object…, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2018

Themes in his work often reflect the unfairness in our society and he tirelessly represents the rage felt by many at injustice. He is probably the most politically motivated in Bristol and his agonising plays out in his work. Tortured, compassionate, angry and sad, his work carries with it huge emotional investment. All good.

1798. M32 Spot (29)

I can honestly say that the artist who most represents Bristol and its youth culture for me is Silent Hobo. With consummate ease he seems to be able to switch seamlessly between commissions and ‘legal’ walls, between indoor and outdoor work, all the time seeing the good in others.

Silent Hobo, M32 Spot, Bristol, October 2018
Silent Hobo, M32 Spot, Bristol, October 2018

This wonderful column piece is one of a few that he has done at the M32 spot, an area where skaters like to gather when it is raining, and where DIY Bristol have created a great skating area under cover of the motorway. This youth reflects all those who gather here, clutching his beat box (what I would call a boogie box) and sporting a beanie. I love the serenity of the piece.

1797. Moon Street (55)

I like surprises. Perhaps this is why I like photographing and writing about street art, because around every corner there could be another surprise. These days, when I visit Moon Street, I don’t expect to find anything new because turnover has slowed to a very gentle trickle. It was great then to see this rather lovely piece by Epok a couple of weeks back.

Epok, Moon Street, Bristol, October 2018
Epok, Moon Street, Bristol, October 2018

This piece by Epok doesn’t quite conform to his usual angular and geometric style, instead yielding to curvy legible piece of writing. It is always good to observe the range of an artist’s talent, and I think this is a marvelous tangent from his norm. Nice to see a high-quality piece on this wall which has gone slightly to the dogs.

1796. Stokes Croft

Inkie has a good relationship going with the Full Moon in Stokes Croft, and is frequently asked to paint their advertising hoardings on the railings of the pub for future events. I am often caught in two minds about whether this kind of art is street art or something altogether different. It is where commercial interests and street art come together at the commissioning end of the spectrum. In this instance I have posted the piece, because it demonstrates Inkie’s range more than some of his other pieces.

Inkie, Stokes Croft, Bristol, October 2018
Inkie, Stokes Croft, Bristol, October 2018

I really like this hoarding with its ‘circus’ font, but the highlight for me is the face on the left hand side of the piece. I am much more used to seeing the Inkie profile portrait of a girl with flowing hair, in this work we see something quite different and in keeping with the spirit of a Day of the Dead themed Halloween party at the pub.

Inkie, Stokes Croft, Bristol, October 2018
Inkie, Stokes Croft, Bristol, October 2018

If the piece had not been signed, I might have had difficulty in identifying the artist, so different is it from his usual style. A good piece (even if it is an advertisement).

Motorway view

 

A perfect vee cuts

across seamless clear blue skies;

autumn migration.

 

by Scooj

1795. St Werburghs tunnel (45)

St Werburghs tunnel has been a happy hunting ground for me in recent weeks and it seems that Bristol street artists are spraying there more often. Part of this higher turnover might be due to the reduction in activity in Stokes Croft and in particular in The Bearpit, which since the Council’s crack down on street art is looking grottier than ever, with tatty fly posters hanging off every surface where decent art used to be, and tagging appearing on every wall the council paints. Well, we told you so.

Soap, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2018
Soap, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2018

Meanwhile The Bearpit’s loss is St Werburghs’ gain, and the PWA crew in particular have been having a ball there. This is a lovely piece by Soap featuring a whole load of mouths squished together and his crossed bones motif. Love this one.

1794. Upfest 2018 (70)

I know that I am not alone when I say that at Upfest there are some pieces simply don’t remember seeing and yet here they are in full colour in my photographs. This is in no way to discredit any of the artists, but rather an acknowledgment of visual overload. It happens. This incredible piece by Darry Perier has been a wonderful surprise and gift when trawling through my photographs. It is such a striking piece it seems a bit weird that I don’t remember it.

Darry Perier, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
Darry Perier, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018

This piece is where cubism meets street art and I love it. It is the kind of piece that would sit equally comfortably on a street wall or in a gallery, a fantastic crossover piece. There is a lot going on to tease the eye and the use of colours in those tight stripes creates a wonderful effect. I wish I had spent more time admiring it in the flesh.

1793. Upfest 2018 (69)

One of the things I really like about Upfest is that it draws artists from all around the world which in turn gives us a chance to see a spectrum of differing styles influenced by native cultures…and there is a real difference not just an imagined one.

Antonia Lev, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
Antonia Lev, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018

This is a beautiful piece by Moscow artist Antionia Lev who cites amongst her influences feminism, comic books and Henri Matisse. The latter of those influences is apparent in the colours and some of the shapes in this work. Coincidentally this is the second post in a row to contain a Swiss cheese plant leaf…what are the chances of that? I am very drawn to this piece whuich can be found in the back yard of The Hen and Chicken.

1792. Upfest 2018 (68)

On the long car park wall of The Tobacco Factory one of the most eye-catching pieces is what I would describe as a still life study by the talented Envol. I first became aware of the artist at last year’s Upfest and his style is so very distinct.

Envol, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
Envol, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018

There is something rather pleasing about this assemblage of recognisable things, the hand and the Swiss cheese plant leaf together with rather more abstract shapes. The painting draws the eye from one side to the other (in my case from left to right) before settling on the whole.

Envol, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
Envol, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018

During the festival this area is a real squeeze, and it can be rather difficult stopping to take pictures without getting nudged in the back or caught up in the tide of human impatience sweeping towards the street food area. Last year’s piece is shown below.

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