Tag: Abstract

1353. Upfest 2017 (139)

Just across the road from South Street Park in a school yard the fabulous combination of Paul Monsters and Loch Ness were busy at work. I’m not sure that many people got to see the final piece, which had been slow to finish due to the weather combined with the fact that after Upfest, access to the school yard has been restricted.

Paul Monsters and Loch Ness, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Paul Monsters and Loch Ness, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

Two fine bristol artists who use bright colours in their work, but with very different styles. Paul Monsters works with geometric patterns creating 3D shapes and shadows that draw the eye in to examine in detail what is happening.

Paul Monsters and Loch Ness, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Paul Monsters and Loch Ness, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

Loch Ness, who also uses lots of colour in his work tends to spray monsters or animals with pieces that tell a story.

Paul Monsters and Loch Ness, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Paul Monsters and Loch Ness, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

The whole piece is a major asset for the pupils of the school, who probably don’t appreciate how lucky they are to have such a beautiful piece adorning this playground building. I got lucky, and managed to take these pictures when the gates were opened for the contractors to remove a cherry picker (which had been used by Nol in the same yard).

1349. The Bearpit (125)

This is the second stunning piece from Oze Arv that was painted in The Bearpit after Upfest 2017 and is at the end of the tunnel opposite his other piece there (see previous post).

Oze Arv, The Bearpit, Bristol, July 2017
Oze Arv, The Bearpit, Bristol, July 2017

Seeing both of these beautiful works by this talented artist was a real treat, and something quite special for The Bearpit, which at times can look a bit tatty and drab. In this piece Oze Arv once again combines his wildlife study with an abstract context – all very seductive and compelling.

Oze Arv, The Bearpit, Bristol, July 2017
Oze Arv, The Bearpit, Bristol, July 2017

For me this really is a great example of free art (of a very high standard) for the people of Bristol. Oze Arv selflessly painting two superb works, probably because he just loves to spray, and leaving a legacy of uplifting optimism. Free art for the people – it doesn’t get much better than that.

1348. The Bearpit (124)

This is the first of two posts on work by Oze Arv in The Bearpit which were very precious gifts that he made while he was in town for Upfest 2017. Since seeing his work for the first at the festival I have become a big fan.

Oze Arv, The Bearpit, Bristol, July 2017
Oze Arv, The Bearpit, Bristol, July 2017

There is something about the connection with nature and the wonderful colours he uses that makes this work engaging and uplifting, let alone his exquisite skill in combining abstract patterns with wildlife subjects.

Oze Arv, The Bearpit, Bristol, July 2017
Oze Arv, The Bearpit, Bristol, July 2017

This piece didn’t last long and the ephemeral nature of it makes the gift seem so much more special. I am pleased that I was able to capture it and even more pleased that I am able to share it now.

 

1339. The Bearpit (121)

I recently saw this fabulous piece by Decay in The Bearpit only a few days after I stumbled across an identical one in Shoreditch a few days earlier. I think that this is all part of a new approach to his work in 2018, and one which will be interesting to observe.

Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, February 2018
Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, February 2018

I am accustomed to seeing his abstract concentric rings in shades of red, grey, white and black with a small face at the centre, which I love, but I await with eagerness the direction his liberation will take.

1325. Upfest 2017 (135)

This stunning piece was the second by Oze Arv at the festival and one of several astonishing pieces he sprayed in Bristol while he was visiting. On the basis of seeing only these few pieces, I can without any doubt say that I admire his work hugely and hope he returns for this year’s festival.

Oze Arv, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Oze Arv, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

He uses a wonderful range of colours and combines an abstract form with superb wildlife illustrations, captured in a carefully balanced composition. In this piece it is a humming bird takes centre stage…in his other festival piece it was a ram. If I had the space and cash, I’d love to have a piece like this hanging on a wall at home. Classy stuff.

1309. Shoreditch, London (3)

When looking for street art outside the borders of Bristol, it is always a genuinely pleasant experience to find a piece by a Bristol artist. And so it was in this fortuitous instance while wandering around Shoreditch fairly aimlessly, because I don’t know my way around. On a hoarding I saw a very familiar sight that was rather comforting, a couple of pieces by Decay.

Decay, Shoreditch, London, February 2018
Decay, Shoreditch, London, February 2018

Although Decay is a migrant Bristolian, a buit like me, I still consider him to be part of the city. In this first piece, Decay looks like he is branching out a little from his usual concentric shapes – I have seen another piece similar to this one recently. I think it works.

Decay, Shoreditch, London, February 2018
Decay, Shoreditch, London, February 2018

Right next to this first piece, Decay has painted one of his works which is altogether more familiar. I believe he sprayed these only a day or two before I photographed them, which is great, especially as I had no idea he had been in the area. A serendipitous trip to London, certainly in my case.

Decay, Shoreditch, London, February 2018
Decay, Shoreditch, London, February 2018

Two more fine pieces from Decay.

1301. Old Ashley Hill

I have driven past this piece dozens of times and caught a glimpse of it out of the corner of my eye, but parking is tricky. Finally I found some time to double park, nip out and take these pictures.

Decay, Old Ashley Hill, Bristol, January 2018
Decay, Old Ashley Hill, Bristol, January 2018

It is a wonderful piece by Decay and one that is likely to be around for some time as it looks like a private commisssion. Many of his pieces, particularly in the centre of town get oversprayed, so it is nice to have a spot where it will be around for a while.

Decay, Old Ashley Hill, Bristol, January 2018
Decay, Old Ashley Hill, Bristol, January 2018

Decay is the master of these abstract designs and his work is easy to identify due to its distinctive shapes and use of the colours red, white, grey and black. This one is a stunner.

1271. St Michael’s Hill (2)

This is not a new piece by Shab, it has been here for months, but it replaces a piece by him that was here before and which I posted in February 2017. It would seem that Shab has the permission of the owners to claim this spot as his own.

Shab, St Michael's Hill, Bristol, November 2017
Shab, St Michael’s Hill, Bristol, November 2017

I never tire of the abstract form that Shab brings to his work, enjoy the anatomical references he makes in his work, which recently has been the inclusion of an eye. In this piece he includes another eye and also the eye scokets and nasal cavity of a skull.

Shab, St Michael's Hill, Bristol, November 2017
Shab, St Michael’s Hill, Bristol, November 2017

This is an interesting piece and slightly off the beaten track. One for the locals.

1261. Upfest 2017 (125)

Funnily enough, this is another piece that I don’t recall very well from the festival itself – there were so many works at Ashton Gate that it has been impossible to recollect them all. However, looking at the images on my computer, this one really stands out as a beautiful  and colourful piece.

Onga, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Onga, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

To my shame, Onga hasn’t really crossed my radar before, despite having lived in Bristol for a few years, and contributing regularly to Upfest in the past. Maybe it is because he doesn’t spray on the walls I visit, I don’t know. I know from a biography I read that he enjoys festivals, and since I have only been to Upfest for the last two years and no other festivals at all, it might explain why our paths haven’t crossed before.

This is a fine piece that probably needs a little bit of scrutiny and unpicking as there is a story there somewhere.

1249. Moon Street (40)

This is the second of two pieces by Rezwonk in Moon Street and one which on first glance looks like a simple geometric pattern scrawled on a gate. Looking more closely, there is probably more to it.

Rezwonk, Moon Street, Bristol, October 2017
Rezwonk, Moon Street, Bristol, October 2017

The patterns are composed of five lines, always in the same order, a little bit like holding five biros in your hand and making patterns or letters  – the kind of things you did at school. Another layer of sophistication here is that the lines are contained within a circle although the circle isn’t outlined. I am not certain, but I wonder if the patterns are letters…if they are, I can’t work them out. My favourite touch though is the five bar gate at the bottom right, almost like a checklist that the five colours have all made it onto the piece. A lovely abstract piece.

Rezwonk, Moon Street, Bristol, July 2017
Rezwonk, Moon Street, Bristol, July 2017