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.

1838. Dean Lane skate park (175)

In Bristol we have a sizeable community of Polish street artists that between them manage to brighten up the city no end. Two of these, Hire and Nevergiveup have a thing for painting bunnies, and here is a reasonably recent one from Hire at Dean Lane. Recently Nevergiveup has opened an Instagram account called @followmyrabbits, and upped his game – I wonder if Hire is responding as this was one of three or four new ones by Hire.

Hire, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2018
Hire, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2018

These rabbits by Hire are always a little bit edgy or menacing and there is definitely a dark side to their characters. Nonetheless, I love coming across them, and they are a brilliant foil to his fabulous graffiti writing.

Treasure

.

Shedding leaves of gold

a silver birch undresses

Autumnal treasure.

.

by Scooj

1837. Waterloo Place (4)

Deamze comes up trumps again with this spectacular piece of wildstyle writing that was sprayed next to the piece by Kleiner Shames I posted a little while back on the wall at the back of the Sofa Project. This wall is just magnificent and both artists have used the same colour schemes but presented their personal styles, so strictly speaking this was working at the same time together, but not necessarily a collaboration.

Deamze, Waterloo Place, Bristol, October 2018
Deamze, Waterloo Place, Bristol, October 2018

Unusually, this is a piece without a cartoon character and has a little more gravitas for it. It almost feels more like a study…a serious piece of graffiti writing turned out impeccably with crisp lines and clean edges, strong solid fills and complex design. Even if not a fan of writing, one can marvel at the technical ability of the artist. I love this and its partner piece. Brilliant.

Kleiner Shames, Waterloo Place, Bristol, October 2018
Kleiner Shames, Waterloo Place, Bristol, October 2018

1836. We the Curious

Most people in Bristol will know that the brilliant museum in Millennium Square, formerly known as @Bristol, changed its name to ‘We the Curious’ about a year ago, in a deliberate move to engage with people and inquisitive young minds. The museum and surrounding environment have always lent themselves to creative arts and the area is a showcase for science meets arts. Recently ‘We the Curious’ teamed up with the Cabot Institute to commission this beautiful work by Bristol illustrator and artist Anna Higgie.

Anna Higgie, We the Curious, Bristol, October 2018
Anna Higgie, We the Curious, Bristol, October 2018

This is a climate change mural (which immediately ticks my boxes) that on the face of it is a stylish portrait, but look a little closer and the picture comes alive with little stories about a changing climate and some of the causes. It is an unusual piece and one we should be proud of, if together with strong climate narratives it begins to engage people with the urgent need to do things differently in order to slow down CO2 emissions. I only know of one other work by the artist in Bristol and will have to post it soon.

One of the joys of the street art scene in Bristol is that it encompasses a spectrum of art from the safest commissions through to illegal graffiti writing and everything in between. Long live artistic expression and public access to art.

Object…

A collection of fabulous street art by Bristol artist Object…

All photographs taken by Scooj

Object..., The Bearpit, Bristol, April 2018
Object…, The Bearpit, Bristol, April 2018
Object..., St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2018
Object…, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2018
Object..., M32 Spot, Bristol, August 2019
Object…, M32 Spot, Bristol, August 2019
Object..., The Bearpit, Bristol, March 2019
Object…, The Bearpit, Bristol, March 2019
Object..., The Bearpit, Bristol, January 2019
Object…, The Bearpit, Bristol, January 2019
Object..., Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
Object…, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
Object..., Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
Object…, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
Object..., St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2018
Object…, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2018
Object...,The Bearpit, Bristol, October 2018
Object…,The Bearpit, Bristol, October 2018
Object...., The Bearpit, Bristol, August 2018
Object…., The Bearpit, Bristol, August 2018
Object..., M32 Spot, Bristol, July 2018
Object…, M32 Spot, Bristol, July 2018
Object...,The Bearpit, Bristol, May 2018
Object…,The Bearpit, Bristol, May 2018
Object..., The Bearpit, Bristol, May 2018
Object…, The Bearpit, Bristol, May 2018
Object..., The Bearpit, Bristol, May 2018
Object…, The Bearpit, Bristol, May 2018
Object..., Stokes Croft, Bristol, April 2018
Object…, Stokes Croft, Bristol, April 2018
Object..., Stokes Croft, Bristol, January 2018
Object…, Stokes Croft, Bristol, January 2018
Object..., The Bearpit, Bristol, July 2017
Object…, The Bearpit, Bristol, July 2017
Object..., Moon Street, Bristol, August 2017
Object…, Moon Street, Bristol, August 2017
Object..., The Bearpit, Bristol, August 2017
Object…, The Bearpit, Bristol, August 2017
Object..., M32 Spot, Bristol, June 2017
Object…, M32 Spot, Bristol, June 2017
Object..., M32 Spot, Bristol, June 2017
Object…, M32 Spot, Bristol, June 2017
Object000 and DNT, Stokes Croft, Bristol, March 2017
Object000 and DNT, Stokes Croft, Bristol, March 2017
Object000, Stokes Croft, Bristol, April 2017
Object000, Stokes Croft, Bristol, April 2017
Object000, The Bearpit, Bristol, March 2017
Object000, The Bearpit, Bristol, March 2017
Object000, The Bearpit, Bristol, February 2017
Object000, The Bearpit, Bristol, February 2017
Object000, The Bearpit, Bristol, January 2017
Object000, The Bearpit, Bristol, January 2017
Object000, St Werberghs Tunnel, Bristol, September 2016
Object000, St Werberghs Tunnel, Bristol, September 2016
Object000, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Object000, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
ObjectØØØ, Jamaica Street, Bristol, April 2016
ObjectØØØ, Jamaica Street, Bristol, April 2016
ObjectØØØ, Jamaica Street, Bristol, April 2016
ObjectØØØ, Jamaica Street, Bristol, April 2016
ObjectØØØ, Dean Lane skate park, Bristol, May 2016
ObjectØØØ, Dean Lane skate park, Bristol, May 2016
ObjectØØØ, Dean Lane skate park, Bristol, May 2016
ObjectØØØ, Dean Lane skate park, Bristol, May 2016
Object000, The Bearpit, Bristol, April 2016
Object000, The Bearpit, Bristol, April 2016

1835. Prince Street

Mystery solved. Regular readers will know that I am really quite uncomfortable with posting pieces if I don’t know who created them. Occasionally I post them anyway because I don’t think I’ll ever find out who did them. In this case, I have held on in with the firm conviction that I would find the artist. And I have.

John D'oh, Princes Street, Bristol, October 2018
John D’oh, Princes Street, Bristol, October 2018

I recently bought John D’oh’s excellent book ‘Street Art and Graffiti‘ and there on pages 40 and 41 is this wonderful stencil piece. These photographs were taken this October, but I have some much older ones somewhere in my archive. The original installation had a little red word ‘why’ to the left of the piece and it was placed on 16 November 2015 as a tribute to those who lost their lives in the Paris terror attacks of 13 November that same month.

There is a little shelf beneath the piece which had little battery operated flickering candle lights to give the piece a shrine appearance. Beautifully conceived and executed. This is a poignant and touching piece from a great Bristol artist who puts a lot of thought, time, energy, passion and effort in to his work.

I was thrilled to find out it was by John D’oh. Good things come to those who wait (and buy books).

1834. Dean Lane skate park (174)

The master of pink, slightly grotesque body parts strikes again, this time in Dean Lane. Yes, its Stupid Stupid Meathole, the artist with the best name and some of the most unusual creations on the streets of Bristol.

Stupid Stupid Meathole, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2018
Stupid Stupid Meathole, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2018

This appears to be an assemblage of faces with rather phallic noses and some stitches thrown in for good measure. I think SSM has an extraordinarily creative mind, I mean these things are slightly odd aren’t they? I really love finding his work, which can be difficult because he doesn’t paint all that often and tends to spread his work about the place a bit. All good in my book though.

More than twenty four

 

Static in traffic

my attention is drawn to

a bush filled with birds

more sparrows than I can count

clustered in a tiny space.

1833. West Street (4)

Another fabulous Halloween treat, this time from Kin Dose just a stone’s throw away from Dean Lane skate park, where I left Rusk who had tipped me off about this fresh piece.

Kin Dose, West Street, Bristol, October 2018
Kin Dose, West Street, Bristol, October 2018

I have seen better pictures of this wall from people who were lucky enough to be here when the sun wasn’t casting shadows all over the place. I seem to be making lots of excuses about poor quality pictures at the moment, but I have to take the shots when I can as I never know when I am going to be back, and tagging and turnover are the enemies of archivists.

Kin Dose, West Street, Bristol, October 2018
Kin Dose, West Street, Bristol, October 2018

Kin Dose is an extraordinarily talented artist whose work is always of the highest standard. He doesn’t do an awful lot of street work, but whenever he does it is always beautifully executed. Comfortable with stencils as well as free hand work he really sets a very high bar.

Kin Dose, West Street, Bristol, October 2018
Kin Dose, West Street, Bristol, October 2018

This piece faithfully reproduces characters from Tim Burton’s ‘A Nightmare Before Christmas’. It is so crisp and clean and although in partial shade I felt lucky to see it in its first full day of being on this wall. A real beauty.

1832. Dean Lane skate park (173)

I got really lucky just before Halloween when I took my lunchtime constitutional down to Dean Lane. I always expect to see something new and occasionally expect to see an artist at work, but when that artist is Rusk it is a real treat and make no mistake.

Rusk, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2018
Rusk, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2018

Halloween I have observed is a time when street artists seem to enjoy hitting the streets and stretching their repertoire with a seasonal theme, which is always fun for people like me. This witty piece conflates Rusk with Count Duckula, the vegetarian duck vampire…who ever dreamed up that cartoon series?

Rusk, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2018
Rusk, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2018

Rusk always has time for a chat, and as he does so he makes fine adjustments to his work, always seeking perfection. Much of what I have learned about the Bristol street art scene and culture I have gathered from our conversations. I love the way he works so hard to get his pieces just right. It is a privilege to see him painting.

Rusk, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2018
Rusk, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2018

Unfortunately light conditions were a bit tricky – that autumnal sunshine is a real bugger, but at least I got some shots of the piece before it got tagged the following day. The day carried on being amazing with the arrival of Jee See just as Rusk was finishing off. My lunch break took a little longer than expected!