2185. Hanbury Street, London (2)

I am often caught in two minds about the ‘high-end’ street art that is much more common in London than in Bristol, because it can appear to forget where its roots are sometimes. This is a fairly weak observation, because actually I pretty much love the entire street/graffiti art spectrum, but what I particularly love about Dale Grimshaw’s work is that for me it bridges the gap between the street and the posh stuff so very well.

Dale Grimshaw, Hanbury Street, London, April 2019
Dale Grimshaw, Hanbury Street, London, April 2019

This amazing piece is typical of Dale Grimshaw’s work and was painted a day or two before I took this picture, so I tyhink I got really lucky. Here’s what he had to say abou it on Instagram:

Latest wall piece in London. Imagery from PNG but highlighting the occupation & atrocities in West Papua by Indonesia.

A man with a message and exceptional talent.

Bank holiday

.

Walking on eggshells

long weekend slipping away

no one overjoyed.

.

by Scooj

2184. Brick Lane (4)

Sometimes you need to be eagle-eyed. Many of you will be familiar with the work of French artist C215 (Christian Guemy) and will have seen pieces by him in Paris or London, or indeed all over Europe. It is his cats in particular that he is really well known for and here is a rather old looking and very small C215 cat in Brick Lane.

C215, Brick Lane, London, April 2019
C215, Brick Lane, London, April 2019

This one was so very well ‘camouflaged’ by all the other busy scrawls on the door that if I had blinked I would have missed it. His work has such a deft touch that brings his pieces to life. I am amazed that in such a small two-tone piece, the character of the cat comes shining through. A brilliantly talented artist.

 

 

2183. Allen Gardens, London (2)

It was great to be able to show my sister this wall back in April, because pretty much the entire length of it was  being actively sprayed. It is not often that you happen to be in the right place at the right time to witness a paint jam in progress, especially when Tizer is involved.

Bapsta and Tizer, Allen Gardens, London, April 2019
Bapsta and Tizer, Allen Gardens, London, April 2019

I believe the artist in the picture is Bapsta and that Tizer was probably wandering around, because even though the artists were doing their finishing touches, I don’t think they had started to disperse. If I had been here alone I expect I would have spoken to a few of them because I really don’t know much about the London scene.

It was a privilege and a bit of luck to see these guys in action.

Talent show

 

Such brave young actors

in end of year performance;

Jarman’s Jubilee.

 

by Scooj

2182. Allen Gardens, London (1)

One of the refreshing things about visiting Shoreditch or Camden Town is that every piece I see is a new discovery. What I mean by that is I don’t really follow London street art on social media, so when I see a piece ‘in the flesh’ it is usually the first time I have seen it or even know of it. In Bristol, I will have seen the majority of street/graffiti art works on Instagram before I ‘find’ them and photograph them. What this also means is that I know relatively little about the London artists, and for my own sanity probably need to keep it that way.

Cokyone, Allen Gardens, London, April 2019
Cokyone, Allen Gardens, London, April 2019

When I visited Allen Gardens in April I think that this piece by Cockyone was relatively new, it certainly looked incredibly fresh. When it comes to birds I think that kingfishers are a real crowd-pleaser, because of their beauty and character, and they frequently feature in street art. I think this is a wonderful piece, skilfully blending abstract grayscale patterns with the vibrant colours of the bird and the crown tops the whole thing off nicely.

2181. Nomadic Community Garden, London (2)

This is a wild, weird and wonderfully executed piece at the entrance of the Nomadic Community Garden just off Brick Lane by the London-based artist Woskerski. I know that skulls are not everyone’s cup of tea, but they play a hugely important part in the street art scene… don’t ask me why, they just do.

Woskerski, Nomadic Community Garden, London, April 2019
Woskerski, Nomadic Community Garden, London, April 2019

Now any skull has a rather dark look about it, but this one is both dark and slightly crazy. There is something disconcerting about that eye floating in its socket and the X in the other socket. What I love about the piece though is the textures and lines and shading that give the piece definition and depth. A masterful work.

Woodland

 

In ancient woodland

untouched by human labours

delicate bluebells.

 

by Scooj

2180. Rivington Street, London, (8)

This doorway (if you care to look on streetview, which is a little out of date now) used to be reasonably clean, and only the little squirrel stencil (bottom right) by Bristol’s Stewy occupied the space. Things move fast in the street art/graff world and I have seen dozens of wheatpastes and larger pieces on the doors. This one I think has to be the pick of the bunch.

Nether410, Rivington Street, London, April 2019
Nether410, Rivington Street, London, April 2019

Although I had been aware of this beautiful piece by Nether410 from my trip to Shoreditch last November, it wasn’t until I visited in April this year that I actually found it. There is a big story unfolding, which touches on incarceration and freedom, humanity and nature. A stunning and thoughtful piece. Skylark security can piss off though. (My apologies).

2179. Bedminster

Yes, another one, and still so many more to come that I have seen from the car, but haven’t yet been able to investigate on foot. These rabbits by Nevergiveup have certainly lived up to their fecund reputation and are multiplying all over the city.

Nevergiveup, Bedminster, Bristol, April 2019
Nevergiveup, Bedminster, Bristol, April 2019

I found this one while killing a few minutes waiting for my son who was training in Bristol South swimming pool. I don’t remember exactly the road it was in which is why this one gets the broad location ‘Bedminster’. All Nevergiveup’s bunnies are rather cute, but this one especially so.