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.
I knew about this beautiful Dan Kitchener piece, because I’d seen it a couple of times on Instagram, so it was ‘front of mind’ when I eventually made it to Brick Lane. The piece, on a perfect wall was towards the southern end of Brick Lane, and although it has been there since mid-March was in remarkably good nick.
Dan Kitchener, Brick Lane, London, April 2019
It is impossible not to admire Dan Kitchener’s work and his geisha pictures really are sublime. The piece is awash with colour and the hair decorations are so beautifully crafted, the street lights behind creating movement. Probably a ‘quick one’ from Dan Kitchener, but a real gem nonetheless.
I took a walk with my sister, who lives in London, a week ago and on her suggestion we headed over towards Brick Lane. On the way there we passed this wonderful stencil by Unify, which definitely met with her approval. There is something rather special about doorway art… perhaps it is the combination of two of my loves – street art and doors.
Unify, Shoreditch, London, April 2019
In my view, there is something a little sad about this chimpanzee who has sprayed ‘I Love You’ on the door, as if completely misunderstood and marginalised and yet still articulating love. We humans have done just about our worst when it comes to the fragile ecosystems where our great primates live but they bear us no grudges… that would be a human quality.
I love Unify’s work, but find that it is often tinged with a little sadness.
This is a really unusual piece by Aspire in a rather unusual setting. The nomadic community garden just off Brick Lane is an example of extreme Bohemian living. A collection of allotment huts, some of which are mini cafes, and a few small plots surrounded by graffiti and street art. It is a completely bonkers public space that has to be seen to be understood.
Aspire, Nomadic Community Garden, Brick Lane, London, April 2019
I would normally associate birds and other wildlife with Aspire, so this rather ghoulish portrayal of Mother Teresa came as a bit of a surprise package. It is definitely by Aspire as it is signed with his characteristic signature in the colours used for the piece. My sister didn’t like this, and I tried to explain to her that it was not typical of his work. Personally I like to see artists switch it up from time to time. A fine piece.
Well I think I hit door gold last week when taking a trip to London. My sister, who lives in Stoke Newington, and I had decided to spend the day together to remember our father on the first anniversary of his death.
My sister suggested we take a walk in the Brick Lane area – I think she thought I’d enjoy showing her the street art in the area, and indeed she was right. Some of the pieces we saw are posted elsewhere on Natural Adventures.
Heading back to a bust stop near Spitalfields Market, we turned right off Brick Lane and into Fournier Street. My jaw nearly hit the floor. I explained the whole ‘Thursday Doors’ to my long-suffering sister and proceeded to snap away. Fournier street is one of those amazing East End streets that has pretty much kept its character, and rather than being knocked down in some kind of ill-thought-out gentrification project it has survived and thrived in private ownership by people who took a punt back in the 1950s/60s that these houses were worth looking after. Gilbert and George are an example of that, and if you Google them in Fournier Street, you can see articles about their house (Number 8 I think).
Enough guff… here is the first installment of Fournier Street doors:
Double double door, Brick Lane Muslim Funeral Services, Fournier Street, London April 2019Blue door and fine portico, Fournier Street, London, April 2019Nice doors and great Victorian tiles, Fournier Street, London, April 2019Door and swanky portico with lamp, Fournier Street, London, April 2019Door, slightly wonky, Fournier Street, London, April 2019Door, eight panels and beautiful surround, Fournier Street, London, April 2019Door, is this one wonky too? Fournier Street, London, April 2019Door with splendid portico, Fournier Street, London, April 2019
More Fournier door delight to come in Part 2 soon.
For more doors and indeed the inspiration behind Thursday Doors go and take a look at Norm 2.0 blog where there are links to yet more doors.
Sweet Toof is a London artist who has always had strong links with Bristol especially through his long-standing friendship with Rowdy. Even now, there are several toothy pieces dotted around the city. It is funny, but I have always thought of him as a Bristol artist, because of his legacy here.
Sweet Toof, Shoreditch, London, April 2019
It was extra special to find this triptych of shutters, that look rather recent, when in London last weekend walking in the Brick Lane area with my sister. It doesn’t seem to matter where I pitch up in the world, there always seems to be a Sweet Toof piece close by.
Sweet Toof, Shoreditch, London, April 2019
These three are really rather special, and have a feel of ‘see no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil’ about them. It is nice to see the three different aspects of the skulls. Obviously that Master’s degree from the Royal Academy of Arts was not wasted.
Sweet Toof, Shoreditch, London, April 2019
I do like Sweet Toof’s work very much indeed, always blending mortality with humour in his incredibly distinctive style. Great find.
I haven’t seen a whole lot of Mr Draws’ work lately – I think he has been out and about, but by the time I get to find his pieces they have been over-painted, so it was most gratifying to come across this one in Dean Lane last week.
Mr Draws, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2019
His ideas are simple and his execution very much in the style of high-class bombers, but in my mind what really sets him apart from others is his willingness to try new concepts and colour patterns. This piece really works for me, it is easy on the eye and I just can’t stop myself following the purple spiral from the centre outwards and back again. The multicoloured fill is a joy. All good from Mr Draws.
Never really at risk of slipping through the net, but posted much later than I had hoped is this magnificent piece by Sled One at the bottom of Lower Ashley Road where construction work has begun. It didn’t take long for the construction company to disrupt any street/graffiti art from making it onto this hoarding, but I think this piece survives.
Sled One, Lower Ashley Road, Bristol, February 2019
Sled One brings us another creature from his imagination which spells out the word ASK. I think it is a cat – he does a lot of cats – but it is the sketch of a fish on the cat’s shoulder that really makes me smile, so simple but so engaging.
Sled One, Lower Ashley Road, Bristol, February 2019
For the last couple of months Sled One has been on a real roll, and it is always an immense pleasure to see his work on the streets. I must get round to updating his gallery.
In Bristol it would seem at the moment that one is never far away from a Mr Klue piece. He is keeping very busy indeed, and this was from a couple of weeks back, during a paint session with Mr Sleven and DNT.
Mr Klue, Moon Street, Bristol, March 2019
Using, what I am guessing are his favourite colours (he uses them a lot) he has created another calming abstract writing piece that possibly spells out KLUE (or you can even read WONE – Mr Klue’s surname). His light touch pieces always have an ephemeral feel about them, that they might just waft away on the breeze. Still loads more to come.
Natural adventures 