Tag: Antikki

3856. Purdown HAA Battery (31)

There is always something joyous about the work of Antikki, good karma perhaps, and this piece definitely has the feel-good factor about it. The poise of the two figures and the relationship between them is full of kindness and hope. Another feature of her work is the connection with nature, which comes across with the plants weaving in and out of the figures.

Antikki, Purdown Battery, Bristol, July 2021
Antikki, Purdown Battery, Bristol, July 2021

Antikki appears to like painting these concrete slabs up at Purdown, but the risk up there is that it is easy pickings for taggers who also seem to like this spot, at least the tags on this one haven’t affected it too much. I always get fired up by the optimism and goodness in Antikki’s work. Hoping for more before too long.

3829. St Werburghs tunnel (248)

I cannot explain how thrilled I was to see this collaboration recently, because it heralded the return to throwing paint at walls of Tasha Bee, one of my favourite artists. Tasha Bee has been concentrating on other projects for the last three years or so, including her small business Pot Heads Pottery, which seems to be going pretty well, and is a wonderful Bristol creative business. The other half of this lovely collaboration is by Antikki and it is great to see these two working together with their complementary styles.

Tasha Bee, St Werburghs, Bristol, July 2021
Tasha Bee, St Werburghs, Bristol, July 2021

On the left hand side of the wall is a beautiful and tranquil, stylised portrait piece by Tasha Bee. All the elements of her work are there, with lots of symbolism and a calmness that is represented in so much of her work. The character’s abundant hair flows to the right appearing to turn into waves on the sea.

Antikki, St Werburghs, Bristol, July 2021
Antikki, St Werburghs, Bristol, July 2021

Antikki has continued the theme and colour scheme, although there is much more movement in her dancing figures against the blue waves. I absolutely love this collaboration and it is a pity that it didn’t last very long. I am just so made up that I photographed it when I did. I sincerely hope that these two get together again soon as there is something magical in their partnership.

Tasha Bee and Antikki, St Werburghs, Bristol, July 2021
Tasha Bee and Antikki, St Werburghs, Bristol, July 2021

3618. Greenbank (6)

I knew all about this wonderful new collaboration from Rosalita’s Instagram feed, and because I recently (and at last) found the Greenbank wall, I rushed down to take some photographs. It was well worth the trip.

Rosalita, Greenbank, Bristol, April 2021
Rosalita, Greenbank, Bristol, April 2021

The collaboration is from Rosalita and Antikki and they certainly decided to go big with this one. There is so much to love here. Rosalita’s clown face behind layers of theatrical make up that disguise the emotional disposition of the subject, as is so often the case with Rosalita’s work there is something sad or uncertain about the portrait. The hair, oh my goodness the hair. Antikki has done an extraordinary job of weaving her dancing figures into the hair, which if you don’t look properly you might miss. The whole portrait is set on a starry and atmospheric background. This is a masterclass in collaborative working where the two styles and cleverly fused into the one piece.

Rosalita, Greenbank, Bristol, April 2021
Rosalita, Greenbank, Bristol, April 2021

Like many other people, I am so enjoying Rosalita’s strong presence on our streets, which has blossomed over the last six months or so and it is great to see Antikki joining her. I would love to see more collaborations from these two.

3569. Purdown HAA Battery (23)

With the onset of spring, the turnover of art on the concrete walls up at Purdown Battery has noticeably increased. It is amazing just how much the improvement in the weather drives street art activity, and already we have had a bumper year… it could be the best ever year for Bristol street art if things continue like this.

Antikki, Purdown Battery, Bristol, March 2021
Antikki, Purdown Battery, Bristol, March 2021

This is a lovely, happy-go-lucky piece from Antikki with all the ingredients for that summer holiday we are all dreaming of. I love Antikki’s illustrative style which could so easily adorn the pages of a children’s picture book. There is a lot to admire in this beach scene, the stylised figure in particular. Superb energetic and fun work.

3490. River Avon (13)

I love coming back to photographs that I have in my archive, just waiting there for an artist identification. It is so fulfilling and closes a circle – a great feeling, like a detective solving a case. I was struck by this piece along the River Avon back in November last year and a little bit peeved that I couldn’t place the artist at all. I discovered the artist’s identity recently after I found another piece at Purdown and started investigating Instagram accounts of other artists who had painted up there – eventually I tracked down Antikki. All I needed to do was look at the signature… d’oh!

Antikki, River Avon, Bristol, November 2020
Antikki, River Avon, Bristol, November 2020

This is a lovely wholesome design piece and has a feel good factor about it – dancing figures bouncing bums in beautiful colours, what’s not to like? Antikki’s style is one that works equally well on walls or in smaller studio designs. I love it when designers and artists hit the streets, it kind of lends legitimacy to street art in a curious way. More to come soon.