Tag: Badger

3197. St Werburghs tunnel (190)

I have noticed a few pieces by Mind Control appearing in Bristol recently, which is no bad thing. I first encoutered his work back at Upfest 2017 and wrote this post which has a link to a rather good interview with the young lad who was only 16 at the time.

Mind Control, St Werburghs, Bristol, September 2020
Mind Control, St Werburghs, Bristol, September 2020

Although he is from the Midlands, I guess that at 19 he has a little more mobility and trips to Bristol might become more frequent. I think I have a couple of other pieces in my archive that I will have to dig out. This is nicely done with a clear message and one that carries huge support with it.

This is a straightforward protest piece calling for the cessation of the badger cull, an unpopular approach to reducing the imfection and impacts of bovine turberculosis. The cull will be reaching its peak this year and then drop off over the coming years. Has it made any difference? We’ll have to wait and see. Have animals suffered? almost certainly. It is a complex disease control problem for which there are limited options.

1152. Upfest 2017 (104)

I was very taken by Rocket01’s piece at leat year’s Upfest, and equally so by this magnificent overture to wildlife and conservation. I love the green backwash that he uses for his work and the synthesis of nature with technology and futuristic scenarios.

Rocket01, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Rocket01, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

There is something solemn and touching in his work let alone the fine artistry in his execution. I missed talking with him this year, I think he just wasn’t there when I was passing each time. Another really strong piece racked up for this year’s festival.

Rocket01, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Rocket01, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

1060. Upfest 2017 (72)

Spot the Badger has an interesting story to tell about how badgers became the ‘thing’, and the Upfest programme biography reads:

Why Badgers? I’ve always been drawing and making things but lacked direction in my output. I needed a focus, and ‘Spot The Badger’ is where I found it. A weekly competition in my local paper to ‘spot’ a tic-tac sized Badger hidden in one of the paid-for ads, I created a stencil of this little Badger and began to draw him in different styles, leading me to where I am today.

For a self-taught artist, there are some really nice design features in this piece, but of course the badger is king.

Spot The Badger, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Spot The Badger, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

Spot the Badger is a Bristol-based artist and this piece for Upfest contains that most iconic of Bristol landmarks, the Clifton suspension bridge. I do love these reference points that Bristol artists add to their works. (Yet another note to self…post a special suspension bridge collection).