5702. Manchester, Northern Quarter

Liam Bononi, Northern Quarter, Manchester, November 2023
Liam Bononi, Northern Quarter, Manchester, November 2023

One of my favourite pieces from recent Upfest festivals was the magnificent piece in North Street by Liam Bononi, so it was just perfect to come across this outstanding piece by the artist in Manchester’s Northern Quarter.

Liam Bononi, Northern Quarter, Manchester, November 2023
Liam Bononi, Northern Quarter, Manchester, November 2023

There is so much to admire in his work, from the composition through to the incredible execution. There is so much fine detail in the subject’s face and hands, with every wrinkle and fold of skin beautifully painted. His work tends to play with the viewer, with the photorealistic image being fragmented or distorted in some way, with hands clutching the face, perhaps indicating some kind of anguish that is not present in the face itself. Truly wonderful street art, and free for all to see.

5701. Manchester, Northern Quarter

Qubek, Northern Quarter, Mancester, November 2023
Qubek, Northern Quarter, Mancester, November 2023

Discovering the Northern Quarter in Manchester was like entering Aladdin’s cave. My daughter and I were wondering around aimlessly, killing a bit of time before heading back to the hotel, picking up our bags and catching the train on to Sheffield. I knew there was quite an active street art scene in Manchester, but I hadn’t had time to research it, so to find this area, which reminded me a lot of Shoreditch, was a super-bonus.

Qubek, Northern Quarter, Mancester, November 2023
Qubek, Northern Quarter, Mancester, November 2023

My knowledge of artists outside the Bristol area is rudimentary at best, and I don’t think I have seen anything by Qubek before. What a piece to start with! The lama, a creature notorious for spitting, is looking suitably cheeky, and the sign next to it says ‘please don’t feed the lama’ with the word ‘feed’ crossed out and replaced with ‘kiss’. Why anyone would want to do such a thing I would never know. A classy piece on a well-used hoarding.

5700. Nottingham

Kid30, Nottingham, November 2023
Kid30, Nottingham, November 2023

I think that Kid30 is synonymous with Nottingham or vice versa, as he certainly seems to be the most prominent street artist in the city, with his work popping up all over the place. I only saw this piece after I had gone past it and looked behind me, whilst rushing to a meeting with my team colleagues.

Kid30, Nottingham, November 2023
Kid30, Nottingham, November 2023

I think the piece was painted in early September and Kid30, according to his Instagram, said it was the first time he had painted this spot, and due to the pigeon attention, likely to be the last. There are plenty of cartoon characters stitched in to the piece, but I can only make out a few of them. Betty Boop, with somebody else’s eyes, Yogi Bear (I think), Homer Simpson and the head of another cartoon hero. The picture of a masked character that is being pasted up appears in a lot of Kid30’s work, and I think is called Smallkid. I really like his style and would like to see much, much more.

5699. Nottingham

Laura Decorum, Nottingham, November 2023
Laura Decorum, Nottingham, November 2023

I have been on quite a few what I call ‘road trips’ lately for both work and touring universities with my daughter – it is perhaps a misnomer, because I invariably travel by rail, which means I am reliant on my legs to get me around the cities and towns that I visit.

This year I have managed to have a walk about in London, Weston-super-Mare, York, Lincoln, Cleethorpes, Exeter, Birmingham, Nottingham, Manchester and Sheffield, and in most of these locations have sniffed out some street art and doors. It feels a little bit like I have been ‘on tour’ and I rather enjoy it. The street art and graffiti that I find is always rewarding, because I am unfamiliar with the locations and often the artists too. This wonderful mural, I stumbled across in Nottingham, falls into that category perfectly.

Laura Decorum, Nottingham, November 2023
Laura Decorum, Nottingham, November 2023

This is a beautiful mural painted above a clothes shop by Laura Decorum, who started her artistic journey with face-painting – she has come a very long way indeed. The mural is difficult to photograph because of the narrowness of the street and height of the mural, but I think you get the picture. I think that the piece was painted sometime around July this year, and was probably either a commission or a festival piece. There are lots of things to admire from the stylised female character to the objects and textures, the fold is very nicely sone. A treat.

5698. M32 Cycle path (240)

Klashwhensober, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, November 2023
Klashwhensober, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, November 2023

A couple of quick ones from Klashwhensober who has been keeping a steady flow of pieces coming off the conveyor belt through the whole of 2023, almost unrelenting. Through that time he has been exploring a lot of new ideas and improving along the way.

Klashwhensober, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, November 2023
Klashwhensober, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, November 2023

This one on the cycle path is really nicely finished, which can’t necessarily be said for all of his pieces. The eye is immediately drawn to the face in the middle of the ‘O’, which creates a strong focal point. The colours are interesting, and I am not sure I would have used pink against the orange, but it seems to work ok.

Klashwhensober, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, November 2023
Klashwhensober, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, November 2023

I find I have to combine pieces by Klashwhensober, because if I didn’t i would probably never post them such is the high volume of pieces he produces. This one is more in the classic style of the artist with strong black letters with blue patterning and drop shadows. The orange and yellow spotty background helps the letters to stand out a little. There is so much more to post from Klashwhensober, so watch this space.

5697. Dean Lane skate park (668)

Dibz and Fade, Dean Lane, Bristol, November 2023
Dibz and Fade, Dean Lane, Bristol, November 2023

This year has seen the emergence of a powerhouse of collaborative graffiti writing and scenes from Dibz and Fade putting together some epic walls. Their drive and commitment has been unrelenting, and 2023 has been a special year in Bristol because of it. In this collaboration, they have been joined by Sikoh.

Dibz and Sikoh, Dean Lane, Bristol, November 2023
Dibz and Sikoh, Dean Lane, Bristol, November 2023

This watery piece is yet another perfect example of their collaborative style. Dibz’ letters are submerged under the waves, with just a little bit of pink breaking the surface, which is really cleverly done. there is a strong sense of swell and movement from the waves.

Sikoh, Dean Lane, Bristol, November 2023
Sikoh, Dean Lane, Bristol, November 2023

In the centre is a character, which according to Sikoh’s Instagram is a water bear pig, whatever one of those is. Naturally, the water creature is holding a spray can which is squirting bubbles. The bubbles are exquisitely painted. This is something of a rare appearance by Sikoh, whose work is always superb.

Fade, Dean Lane, Bristol, November 2023
Fade, Dean Lane, Bristol, November 2023

Rounding off the triptych is some great writing from Fade, which, like Dibz’, is largely submerged, with a little bit of pink breaking the surface. Fade has incorporated lots of arrows, perhaps indicating the fluidity of the underwater scene. A fine collaboration.

Thursday doors – My favourite doors of 2023

Doors 247 – a selection of my favourite doors that I have posted on Thursday doors in 2023

This post does what it says on the tin, so all I need to add is to wish you a very happy festive season and Christmas. One door from each month of the year when I posted them. Here they are:

January

Door and shutter, Zaton, Croatia, August 2022
Door and shutter, Zaton, Croatia, August 2022

February

Door in Krka National Park, Croatia, August 2022
Door in Krka National Park, Croatia, August 2022

March

Yellow door wirh a dodo and planters on the cornice, Greenbank, Bristol, February 2023
Yellow door with a dodo and planters on the cornice, Greenbank, Bristol, February 2023

April

Black door and very grand portico, Bristol, May 2022
Black door and very grand portico, Bristol, May 2022

May

Plenty of doors on this Network Rail rail grinder, Weston-super-Mare, May 2023
Plenty of doors on this Network Rail rail grinder, Weston-super-Mare, May 2023

June

Recessed turquoise door with steps and tiles, York, June 2023
Recessed turquoise door with steps and tiles, York, June 2023

July

Tudor doorway and more recent door, York, June 2023
Tudor doorway and more recent door, York, June 2023

August

Three doors on the west entrance to Lincoln Cathedral, Lincoln City, July 2023
Three doors on the west entrance to Lincoln Cathedral, Lincoln City, July 2023

September

Three black doors on an old stone building and incredible windows, Lincoln, July 2023
Three black doors on an old stone building and incredible windows, Lincoln, July 2023

October

Three black doors, Jews Court, Lincoln, July 2023
Three black doors, Jews Court, Lincoln, July 2023

November

Marzia gate and door, Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
Marzia gate and door, Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023

December

Stunning studded door and stylish stone surround, Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023
Stunning studded door and stylish stone surround, Perugia, Umbria, Italy, July 2023

So that’s it for 2023, and a very enjoyable door year at that. I look forward to seeing you all again in the New Year.

If you have made it this far, you probably like doors, and you really ought to take a look at the No Facilities blog by Dan Anton who has taken over the hosting of Thursday Doors from Norm 2.0 blog. Links to more doorscursions can be found in the comments section of Dan Anton’s Thursday Doors post.

by Scooj

Door logo, Thursday doors

5696. Peel Street Green (23)

Mr Crawls and Mote, Peel Street Green, Bristol, November 2023
Mr Crawls and Mote, Peel Street Green, Bristol, November 2023

One of the most entertaining and, on reflection, most likely collaborative partnerships is that between Mote and Mr Crawls. The biggest surprise is perhaps that this coming together hadn’t happened Sooner. This is the second collaborative piece that I have posted, and I have another waiting to post, although that one is rather badly tagged.

Mr Crawls and Mote, Peel Street Green, Bristol, November 2023
Mr Crawls and Mote, Peel Street Green, Bristol, November 2023

To the left, Mr Crawls has come up with something really unusual, and for once not a bird. Quite what it is, though, I am not sure. Bones, horns, a muzzle with sharp teeth – a rather nasty monster. Next tom this imaginary beast is a bird monster by Mote, looking a little more evil than some of his character creations – perhaps it is the company it is keeping. This motley duo (the characters, not the artists) prop up the far end of the long wall at Peel Street Green.

5695. Brunel Way (249)

Zake, Brunel Way, Bristol, November 2023
Zake, Brunel Way, Bristol, November 2023

As we approach Christmas and the end of the year, I expect my posts to get slightly shorter, possibly a little bit more reflective, and maybe even a little bit rushed. I suffer from ‘ground rush’ before breaking up for a holiday period, when a whole bunch of work needs to be tied up and out of the door in an ever-diminishing time slot. Alright, I get it, I am getting my excuses in early, and that is the way I roll.

Zake, Brunel Way, Bristol, November 2023
Zake, Brunel Way, Bristol, November 2023

Zake has had an extraordinary 2023, where his work has not only been more frequent, but it has blossomed, and he is pushing all of his boundaries to develop his unique portrait style. I first became aware of his work through his column pieces under the M32 in May 2018, and they have been a regular feature ever since, as you can see in this updated gallery of his work. There is lots of depth created by light and shadow in this piece, and a fair amount of expression in those wild staring eyes.