Tag: Belgium

2433. Upfest 2018 (155)

I do like pieces that are black and white with one additional colour, there is something about them that helps to focus the eye and grab the attention. Such a piece can be fussy without being confusing. This Upfest 2018 piece by Wietse is a great example of this colour genre.

Wietse, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
Wietse, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018

The globe-trotting artist was born in Bruges, Belgium is inspired by History, nature and travelling. Here he has painted (with brushes) a unicorn being attached, I think, by what looks like a pair of panthers. It is the kind of scene that would lend itself very nicely to illustrate the politics of the UK right now. It is in your face, beautiful, savage and feels like quite an outspoken piece. Whatever the narrative, I do rather like it.

1007. Church Road, St George.

My daughter has a chameleon, which eats live locusts. Every now and then, when I have forgotten to order them I have to traipse over to the other side of Bristol to get some, and this journey takes me through St George where I spotted this shutter piece. This is in my view rather special, because it is by the highly talented Braga Last1.

Braga Last1, Church Road St George, Bristol, July 2017
Braga Last1, Church Road St George, Bristol, July 2017

Braga Last1 is a Belgian artist who has been over to Bristol for Upfest for the last two years, and I have a feeling he did this commission in 2016. There is so much to like about this piece. First off, the artist himself, secondly it depicts a cartoon version of Darth Vader and thirdly it is beautifully sprayed. I like it a lot. Belgium seems to be having a bit of a street art golden period at the moment, with other artists such as Mehsos, Bisser and Dzia all stunning audiences with their work. Of course Belgium has a very rich culture of art going back centuries, and maybe this heritage inspires them. More from Braga Last1 soon.