I am enjoying the regularity with which Biers is turning out his pieces at the moment, with at least one or two each month. The broad format is the same, with his WD40 letters, and a character poking through the ‘0’.
Biers, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2024
The character has baffled me a little, and my Google search has yielded nothing, so he will have to remain a mystery. Perhaps the skull next to the character would offer an extra clue, but it is not enough for me. The letters are really clean and tidy, a feature of Biers’ recent work, and the colour palette is lovely, although slightly lost on the pinky background. Perhaps something with a little more contrast might have worked better, but what do I know?
Zed in the Clouds, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2024
These large block letters are something a little different from Zed in the Clouds, an artist who is regrettably underrepresented in Natural Adventures. I have many photographs of his work in my archives, but not a lot have been posted, which is a situation I will try to remedy (it might have to wait until my retirement).
Zed in the Clouds, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2024
Painted alongside his friend Wxttsart (Milk) and in a similar colour scheme, Zed in the Clouds has shaped some monolithic letters, which, with the orange and red border, have a volcanic feel to them. He has added the words ‘sexy typographic creationz’ above the piece, which makes me think he is rather pleased with this piece of writing, and so he should be. It is certainly something a bit different from the artist.
I have a very busy week ahead, so apologise in advance for any disruption to my usual rhythm. I start with a trip to Nottingham today and tomorrow and am in London on Thursday, delivering workshops, which is both time-intensive and exhausting. Managing expectations.
A graffiti writer, who has emerged over the last year or so is Knife, I don’t yet know they are or if they use social media, so for the time being I shall use their writing moniker.
Knife, Greenbank, Bristol, February 2024
I have seen Knife’s work in quite a few of the spots I visit, and felt it was about time I posted a piece. I think that Knife paints solo, at least I haven’t yet noticed any patterns of painting with anyone else, which makes me think that the artist is fairly new to Bristol. This is a really nicely executed piece, clean and tidy letters with a straightforward three colour fill, nothing too fancy or pretentious. Even though the wall hasn’t been buffed, the graffiti writing is eye-catching, and this is a solid debut piece (on Natural Adventures) from Knife. Expect more to follow.
Oh my! This is Kosc at his very best, and even by his high standards, he has excelled himself. It is obvious that Kosc works very hard to develop his skills and looks to improve from piece to piece, stretching his repertoire and pushing boundaries. When you strive and work hard, you get your returns and this feels like a landmark piece to me.
Kosc, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2024
From the background I would guess that this is an oriental scene and portrait, featuring a beautiful woman with flowers in her hair. The greyscale portrait has a softness of touch about it, accentuated by the solid chunky letters either side. I am not too sure why the ‘C’ melts away, but there must be a reason behind it.
Kosc, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2024
To me, what absolutely makes the piece perfect, is the stunning landscape setting featuring mountains and trees and old buildings, painted in subtle shades of blue. Whether it is deliberate or not, the spilt paint on the ground draws the piece out towards the viewer and adds to the overall impression. Brilliant work from an artist at the top of his game.
Taboo is an artist who tends to keep himself to himself, and on the only occasion I have met him, he didn’t much want to chat, so I left him to it. He often paints alone, although he occasionally collaborates with his friends in the PLB crew. He doesn’t post on social media, so finding his pieces is always a genuine surprise, especially as I really like his work.
Taboo, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2024
This is a really nice piece of anti-style graffiti writing, spelling out TABOO, with beautifully irregular and anarchic letters which are clean and crisp. I fear that he may have come out with a lack of red paint for the background, which is a little scruffy in places, but fine in the gaps in the letters, which is what counts. It is great to see that Taboo is out and about after a pretty quiet winter period.
This piece from Haka is simply perfect in every way.
Our country is in a mess, largely thanks to the appalling Government that have been in power for the last 14 years, and their lurch to the right. Their latest culture war that they are waging on the good people of the UK, is that anyone protesting for peace in Gaza and an immediate ceasefire is branded an Islamist, which when you look at it, is absurd. Calls for an end to the war, and indeed countless other wars, are treated as a threat or anti-government, rather than being a cry to stop the needless killing and suffering. What else can citizens do to express their concerns other than protest. I would think that the vast majority of British people are against the war in Gaza, after all what kind of person would want the killing to continue? Only those who stand to gain financially or politically.
In this piece Haka peacefully makes his own statement ‘Free Palestine’, accompanied by a small peace flag. Does this make him a fundamentalist or an Islamist? I don’t think so. Nor does it make any of the other street artists who have painted commentary pieces about the war in Gaza some kind of threat to our British values. On the contrary, British values are based on compassion, fairness, decency, honesty and truth. It is politicians and political leaders who bend these values to suit their own narratives, and in this respect the right wingers have excelled themselves in recent years. Decent people have had enough. We need a change of government, but alongside that we need to return to a united society, because we have some far greater challenges ahead of us which we must face together. There is no room for selfishness any more, that way leads to our mutually assured doom.
Sermon over.
Haka, Peel Street Green, Bristol, February 2024
This piece is beautifully recreated in the style of Dr Seuss and perfectly captures the moment. The innocence of the camel adding to the pathos of the message. Haka has created something both beautiful and powerful and I salute him. This is not a ‘hate’ piece, it is a cry for peace piece.
This lovely piece by Nips was slightly hidden from view, behind the hedge and fence on the swimming pool wall in Dean Lane. I think that I have been pretty late to the party when it comes to posting pieces by Nips, but I now have the artist fully in my sights and I’m sure there will be plenty of appearances from now on.
Nips, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2024
The letters, spelling NIPS, painted in a great and eye-catching combination of black and mint green are set on a complementary pink drop shadow. The star of the piece though, for me, is the crazy dog character making up the dot on the letter ‘i’. It is details and additions like this that elevate a good piece to a great one. More to come from Nips before too long.
A week or so ago I decided to visit the Devon Road area of Bristol, which I have neglected for quite a long while but where turnover tends to be rather slow. I was rewarded with this magnificent piece at the end of Devon Road, by Conrico. I might be pushing the boat a little, but I think that this could be the best piece I have seen from Conrico, and that is saying something.
Conrico, Devon Road, Bristol, February 2024
There is a wonderful story of an oriental flavour unfolding. Our central character is a fox wearing a fabulous blue robe, tossing a spray can in his right hand and clutching a roller in his left. Is there something autobiographical going on here? The fox is standing in a scene that could so easily have been inspired by the willow pattern. Each of the elements of this piece , the pond, the building the trees and the cloudy sky, combine to create a truly fantastic whole. Bravo!
Kool Hand, Face 1st, Soap and Zake, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2024
This collaboration from the Pirate Wall Art (PWA) crew is a little different in one key respect, and it doesn’t take too long to figure out what that is, but to spell it out, Soap and Face First’s writing resembles throw-up style graff quite unlike their usual individual styles.
Kool Hand, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2024
To the left Kool Hand, an occasional PWA collaborator, has painted a blue leopard wearing a yellow bucket hat, and why not, pointing, I would like to think, in admiration of his friends’ writing. Kool Hand is perhaps an underrated street artist in Bristol, whose work often goes under the radar, particularly on social media.
Face 1st and Soap, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2024
Unusually for a triptych collaboration, the centrepiece here is writing, and a very fine combination from Face 1st on top and Soap underneath. The writing designs are quite old-school and in themselves nothing to write home about, but the fills elevate this central panel to a different level altogether. The pink fill is decorated with a whole bunch of squiggly designs, but the clever bit is how the fills transition seamlessly between the two pieces of writing. Great stuff.
Zake, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2024
I said in a post a couple of days ago, that Zake has been smashing it for a long time. He is a machine, turning out creative and fun pieces at a rate of at least one a week, This piece on close inspection is a little grotesque, as the main character is putting an arm into a mincing machine. The stuff of horror nightmares. Perhaps it is a representation of Sweeny Todd, the demon barber of Fleet Street. Who ever it is, there is a story here. All in all this is a fine February collaboration from the PWA boys.
Laic217 has been smashing it for years now, and I continue to enjoy the ride he is taking us on. His improvement and development continues from piece to piece, always getting better and more interesting to look at.
Laic217, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, February 2024
This piece is full of sharp detail, in the flames, and the folds of the fabric but most noticeably in the reflections of the skeleton’s glasses. There is a lot of precision in this piece, and the mask being worn is amazing. An L on the hat for LAIC rounds the piece off nicely. There is always a home for every piece I find by the artist on Natural Adventures.
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