Author: scooj

I am Stephen. I live in Bristol, UK. I decided to shorten my profile...to this: Wildlife, haiku, travel, streetart, psychogeography and my family. Not necessarily in that order.

2057. Lawrence Hill roundabout (4)

I haven’t seen too much of Nevla’s work lately, so it was great to come across a whole pile of pieces in the tunnels of the Lawrence Hill roundabout a couple of weeks back. This is a rather cute (a word I rarely use) piece of a character spraying the name Nevla book-ended by a couple of bears.

Nevla, Lawrence Hill, Bristol, February 2019
Nevla, Lawrence Hill, Bristol, February 2019

I have a feeling that the tunnels on this roundabout will become more of a playground for street/graffiti artists over the summer. It is interesting to observe the shifting sands of street art spots, especially as so many great walls in Stokes Croft have disappeared (gentrification).

The sixth age

 

The wisdom of age

does not compensate for lost

capabilities.

 

by Scooj

2056. St Werburghs tunnel (63)

Zake is an artist who is really coming out of the shadows and making a bit of a name for himself. I first became aware of him last Summer but I don’t know if that was because he was reasonably new to the Bristol scene or whether I just hadn’t spotted any of his work before.

Zake, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2019
Zake, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2019

This piece is a little bit different and has some similarities with artwork by Laic217…which can only be a good thing. A skull leaving its host through the mouth is surely an odd concept, but one which allows Zake to experiment beyond his faces. Skulls are difficult to get right, but this is not too bad at all. I love it that Zake is more mobile and seems to have teamed up with some of the PWA artists and friends. A lovely surprise piece in the tunnel.

2055. Norfolk Place (4)

There is something about Cheo’s work that oozes class. I think it stems from his great compositions and characters, but most of all his incredibly clean lines. The whole thing looks like it has been painted with fat felt tips rather than spray cans.

Cheo, Norfolk Place, Bristol, April 2017
Cheo, Norfolk Place, Bristol, April 2017

I love the smoking cat character with his gold chain in the centre of the piece, and I’m not too sure what the white creature on the left is, but he is clearly animated about something.

Cheo, Norfolk Place, Bristol, April 2017
Cheo, Norfolk Place, Bristol, April 2017

I struggle to read Cheo’s writing, mainly because he doesn’t simply write ‘CHEO’  which would of course make things much easier. Crazy that I’ve only just posted this one.

Forgetful

 

Wrote a nice haiku

in my head this morning but…

can I recall it?

not even a single word

this tanka will have to do.

 

by Scooj

Sad dad

 

Teenage girls laughing

at my Spotify playlist;

mostly musicals.

 

by Scooj

 

2054. M32 roundabout J3 (128)

Another one that slipped through the net is this melting face piece by Laic217 from a time when he was experimenting with these kinds of facial distortions and disfigurements, back in February 2017.

Laic217, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2017
Laic217, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2017

Although it is only a small piece, sandwiched between two bits of graffiti writing, it demands to be looked at, and why not…this is the kind of piece that typifies the work of this Polish adopted son of Bristol. Melting face, bucket hat, smilie face smoking… all trademarks used by Laic217. Another fine piece.

2053. The Bearpit (177)

With the incredible weather we have had recently in Bristol, there has been a massive turnover of street art, so what the hell am I doing delving through my archive pictures rather than posting current street/graffiti art? I think that it tends to happen when I am looking for something specific and then stumble upon things that I have squirreled away. Anyhow, I saw this and just had to post it. It is a winter piece (obviously from the subject) by John D’oh.

John D'oh, The Bearpit, Bristol, January 2017
John D’oh, The Bearpit, Bristol, January 2017

The stencil depicts the snowman from Disney’s Frozen, and makes a pun on the name with one of the characters (Olaf = a laugh), but then draws in the incredibly serious matter of climate change. This is a skillful way of blending art, humour and the biggest issue of our time in a typically John D’oh way. I love this piece and am happy that I have now at last liberated it.

Window seat

.

I’m facing backwards

watching the world pass me by

metaphor for life.

.

by Scooj

2052. Upfest 2016 (170)

Rounding off this batch of ten Upfest 2016 pieces is this powerful piece by Bram. Depicting  a person standing behind a glass barrier, the piece makes a bold statement about refusing refuge, which in 2016 was a huge issue across Europe.

Bram, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Bram, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

Although the piece on first inspection might seem a little simple, it is in fact beautifully composed and executed, with fine detail on the hands pressed up to the screen, but a murky figure behind the hands is obscured. It is a moving piece and a classic case of less is more, as you try to fill the gaps of the story for yourself.

Bram, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Bram, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

I know nothing of the artist and have struggled to find out anything from the Interweb.