Tag: Benjimagnetic

3653. M32 roundabout J3 (315)

I don’t understand what is going on in Bristol at the moment, but some truly magnificent pieces are being painted over far too quickly. Maybe we have too many artists (is that a thing?) or maybe we don’t have enough ‘safe’ walls (probably), whatever the reason, there is a lot of great art that has a very short lifetime. This collaboration from Hemper and Benjimagnetic is one of these ephemeral pieces.

Hemper, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2021
Hemper, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2021

The artists have worked really well together here and their pieces appear to be a bit of a fusion, each mimicking the other one’s style. They have matched the colour scheme across the two pieces, and on the left is this exquisite HEMS (difficult to see) so skilfully crafted.

Benjimagnetic, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2021
Benjimagnetic, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2021

To the right is the Benjimagnetic half spelling BEN and equally expertly sprayed. It would seem that in working together on this, both artists have raised their game, particularly Benjimagnetic, whose work at the moment is entering a new level. This is simply a beautiful collaboration.

Hemper and Benjimagnetic, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2021
Hemper and Benjimagnetic, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2021

 

 

3613. M32 Cycle path (119)

I don’t know if I am imagining things, but since this whole pandemic malarkey began it seems like there have been more collaborative walls than one would normally expect, and I wonder if it is a way for artists to legitimately socialise, whilst keeping a distance, with people they care about. Maybe it is just a perception, but I feel there has been a collaborative explosion.

Benjimagnetic, M32 cycle path, Bristol, April 2021
Benjimagnetic, M32 cycle path, Bristol, April 2021

This wonderful piece from the magnificent Benjimagnetic was painted alongside Hemper, Turoe and Veks and demonstrates a slight change of direction he has been on lately in which he has moved away from his busy and frenetic style, but managed to retain the abstract nature of his letters. This piece most likely spells out BEN, but it is nicely disguised. A very nice piece indeed with some fabulous colour transitions.

3601. St Werburghs tunnel (233)

Both of these artists have had a very busy year in terms of throwing paint at walls. Benjimagnetic and Hemper are not artists I would normally pair up, but they have painted together in the past and continue to do so from time to time. Benjimagnetic’s style is much more consistent, whereas with Hemper, each piece is incredibly individual.

Benjimagnetic, St Werburghs, Bristol, March 2021
Benjimagnetic, St Werburghs, Bristol, March 2021

On the left is a fascinating piece from Benjimagnetic spelling BEN, which is much less frenetic and busy than his usual offerings. The yellow outline, where you can make out his letters, is sitting over a blockwork pattern, and the whole efect is compelling. Two little speech bubbles state: ‘Stand in the balance’ and ‘Hold your head up’

Hemper, St Werburghs, Bristol, March 2021
Hemper, St Werburghs, Bristol, March 2021

To the right Hemper has created a sensational piece of writing spelling out HEMS in beautifully curvy letters which are filled to perfection with various colourful shades and bubbles. The whole thing is set on a very atmospheric green background with a few subtle shout-outs. ‘Free assembly is a right… …not a privilege’ is a sentiment very close to many Bristolian hearts at the moment. Kill the bill.

3513. Dean Lane skate park (394)

More great work from Benjimagnetic who is on fire these days, this time with a nice piece of heavily disguised writing at Dean Lane. This one was painted alongside Acer One who also seems to have had a new lease of life in recent weeks.

Benjimagnetic, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2021
Benjimagnetic, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2021

Benjimagnetic has used his favourite colour palette of reds, purples and blues, but rather than spelling BEN as is usual he has spelt something else here. My usual uselessness at reading his writing means that I can’t tell you what this says… it starts with a T but I lose it after that. Whatever it says, it is still a fine piece.

3478. M32 Cycle path (108)

As gentrification marches on apace, there is a bit of a squeeze on the number of walls that artists can paint, and in North Bristol this is has been exacerbated by the loss of The Bearpit, which has become an inert, dead urban space that people pass through. Utilitarian and functional, but perceived to be safe, and the homeless people have been moved on to be homeless somewhere else. I have a feeling that the discredited Rudi Giuliani, who was praised at the time, moved the ‘bums’ out of Manhattan, without actually addressing the issue of homelessness. Perception is everything for politicians. Smoke and mirrors.

The point I was clumsily trying to make is that the M32 Cycle path is unlikely to be developed any time soon and has become more popular than ever for street artists and graffiti writers, whit a much higher turnover than a few years ago.

Benjimagnetic, M32 cycle pth, Bristol, February 2021
Benjimagnetic, M32 cycle pth, Bristol, February 2021

This is a very nice piece by Benjimagnetic, which has replaced a rather ordinary throw up that had trashed the Halloween piece from Smak last year. Benjimagnetic has been turning out pieces with alarming regularity lately and I am struggling to keep up with posting them, but at least I can now read them (I think) because mostly they say BEN. Always good to find a new Benjimagnetic piece.

3449. Brunel Way bridge (87)

At last a piece by Benjimagnetic that I can actually read. It quite clearly spells out BEN, much like many of his other pieces, but this one more legibly. It is interesting to note that Benjimagnetic is painting a few of these less cryptic pieces at the moment demonstrating that he is clearly not a one trick pony.

Benjimagnetic, Brunel Way, Bristol, January 2021
Benjimagnetic, Brunel Way, Bristol, January 2021

I hadn’t particularly been looking for this, and when I first saw it, wasn’t too clear who it was by until the penny dropped with the BEN and the little hollow highlights (that look like ‘V’s) that are such a trademark of the artist. Silver and Gold work well in this piece and which again are quite unusual colour selections that I wouldn’t normally associate with Benjimagnetic. A nice modest piece.

3429. Dean Lane skate park (381)

This is another wall which I was foolish enough not to photograph in its entirety. It is actually a three-way collaboration between Awkward, Acer One and Benjimagnetic. Sometimes I wonder if I get carried away taking pictures without actually thinking about what I am doing.

Awkward and Acer One, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2020
Awkward and Acer One, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2020

On the left-hand side of the wall is a beautiful letter piece from Acer One with the letters TCF bookended by two rather frightening character faces by Awkward. I have seen an Awkward/Benjimagnetic collaboration before, but it is great to see all three artists together.

Benjimagnetic, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2020
Benjimagnetic, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2020

On the right is the Benjimagnetic contribution and is yet another fine piece from him. I have an awful lot of catching up to do with his pieces and I will try and dig them out of my files when (if ever) there is a lull in street activity.

3416. Dean Lane skate park (377)

Benjimagnetic is on fire at the moment, and although I haven’t’ posted many of his recent pieces, they are in the pipeline and I hope to share them all eventually. This one is in Dean Lane skate park on a wall that has seen some wonderful low-key pieces in the past. It is not one of the big ‘statement’ walls but tends to play host to some rather more modest pieces.

Benjimagnetic, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2020
Benjimagnetic, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2020

I will always own up to having Benjimagnetic dyslexia. I really struggle to make out his letters. However, I suspect Paul H might be able to help, but I think I can see an R an M? And an A? – who knows. His unique style is so recognisable and his ‘ghost’ letters brilliantly disguised. A fine piece of wildstyle writing.

3337. St Werburghs tunnel (209)

Always colourful and always a little bit different is what you expect to get with a Benjimagnetic piece. His work feels like it is layered, with each layer adding complexity to the piece, but I haven’t yet seen him paint, so it is difficult to know how he constructs his work.

Benjimagnetic, St Werburghs, Bristol, November 2020
Benjimagnetic, St Werburghs, Bristol, November 2020

I have a real blind spot with reading his letters which is I think because they are hinted at with some black highlights and ethereal fills. If the fills were more solid and outlined complete, it would be much easier to interpret, but then it just wouldn’t be Benjimagnetic. He completes this piece with the words “Outsiders live forever”  – whatever that means.

3234. M32 roundabout J3 (256)

The work of Benjimagnetic is so very distinctive, but as I mentioned before, I find it very tricky to decypher the letters in his writing. The density and compactness of the work with so many intricate lines and patterns make it hard to pick the letters out.

Benjimagnetic, M32 roundabout, Bristol, September 2020
Benjimagnetic, M32 roundabout, Bristol, September 2020

Sometimes with certain artists, your eyes become accustomed to their style and you become better at translating or working out the words, but I have a total fail when it comes to Benjimagnetic. My guess here would be ‘B, X or M, R’. The letters do not matter too much, the colour selection is great and those white-bordered angular shapes, so unique to the artist, are superbly done. A nice piece.