Tag: Biodiversity

4580. St Michael’s Hill (6)

I was tipped-off by John D’oh about this wonderful, small stencil in a little alleyway off St Michael’s Hill, and it is always nice to have that kind of trust and bond with an artist, and sit is something I really appreciate.

John D'oh, St Michael's Hill, Bristol, July 2022
John D’oh, St Michael’s Hill, Bristol, July 2022

The subject matter of the stencil is our national treasure, Sir David Attenborough, although he is actually so much more than a national treasure. Sir David Attenborough is an inspiration and hero to an entire generation, and his work, highlighting the wonder of biodiversity is an example and warning to national and world leaders, who should listen to what he has to say. I love the way that Sir David Attenborough and Greta Thunberg have joined forces, creating a generational continuity campaigning on behalf of our beautiful planet.

The stencil is notable for being a contemporary image of the great man, showing him as the old man that he is, no sentimentality. Another great piece in which John D’oh has captured one of the most important champions for our planet, with an injection of humour in the words, mimicking a voice-over by the great man himself.

(Bio)Diversity

 

Dominance softened

when pockets of difference

break monotony

 

by Scooj

 

At first glance this picture appears to show only mussels, but take a longer closer look. There are at least six different species in the picture and they break up the regular pattern and dominance of the mussels to create a less threatening and stark ecology. A metaphor perhaps?

2678. Cheltenham 2019 (27)

I love the work of I Bee W, but feel a bit guilty that I haven’t posted much of his work – there is no reason for this, I just have a few pieces in my archive that never made it out. This poignant piece from the Cheltenham Paint Festival 2019 was always going to get posted as the subject matter chimes with me.

I bee W, Paint Festival 2019, Cheltenham, September 2019
I bee W, Paint Festival 2019, Cheltenham, September 2019

There is a high-gloss quality about this piece, which is remarkable really as it has been sprayed onto chipboard. The image is a sad tale of the disappearance of wildlife through biodoversity loss and climate change, the two most significant issues facing the planet. A little red-eyed tree frog – a representative of life on earth – is saying ‘Bye then!’ as if its existence is a trivial afterthought. Although quite funny, I find this piece and all it represents very depressing. I never thought I would witness first-hand the tipping point, where slowing or reversing biodiversity loss becomes impossible, but all I see around me is an acceleration towards that eventuality. Big changes are needed urgently if we want a beautiful future.