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Notification
does not necessarily
mean comprehension
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by Scooj
Tag: Bristol
4934. St Werburghs tunnel (336)
I think that it is probably safe to say that Klashwhensober has had a great year and that he is likely to have been Bristol’s most productive graffiti writer in 2023. I have been doing a bit of a trawl through my archives, and will shortly be sharing a host of pieces by Klashwhensober that never made it into this blog.
This recent piece in the tunnel, spelling SOBER, is a stunner in which Klashwhensober has gone for a vertical split with the colouring (that faithful combo of pink and blue), and a smoking ‘volcanic’ rift between the two halves of the piece. This is beautifully painted and presented and offers real depth and movement. Fine work indeed. Look out for a Klashwhensober post in a few days.
4933. Cheltenham Road
It would seem that Kid Krishna ‘owns’ the walls either side of Boston Tea Party on Cheltenham Road, as there are pieces by the artist either side of the entrance, and both of them are character pieces, rather than the stylised writing we are more familiar with. This piece is to the left of the entrance, and is a bit of a stunner.
Of course, there is more than just a passing nod to Vaughn Bode’s Cheech Wizard character in this piece, with the addition of some curious camera or lens in the middle. This is a beautifully crafted piece and one of my favourites from last year.
I am really confused about one thing, though. One time I drove past this piece when it was being painted, I saw a woman painting it, or at least I thought I did. I might have been mistaken, and my eyes aren’t getting any younger, but if I am right, then Kid Krishna might be female. Either Paul H can put me straight, or I will just have to find Kid Krishna at work.
4932. Nelson Street (17)
It was dark, and I was Christmas shopping when I passed by this shutter piece by Taboo in Nelson Street. I haven’t seen the piece in daylight since, so I don’t really know if the colours are a true representation in these pictures.
Taboo does paint rather a lot of shutters, and it would seem that he enjoys it, although it can’t be easy to do them, because of the textured surface. In common with several of his works, Taboo has incorporated a trippy Mickey Mouse character into his unruly letters. There is always so much to look at and admire in Taboo’s work, and I love the smiley peeping the first letter and the long ghoul-like fingers. I have been bamboozled by the letters, and am not too sure what they spell, APOS or OPOS maybe? A nice piece nonetheless.
4931. Elton Street (15)
I was a late adopter of these wonderful boards on the side of the Lost Horizon Arts Centre – somehow I just didn’t discover them until about a year ago. Now, Elton Street is definitely on my radar, and has become a refreshing outdoor gallery that tends not to get tagged, where the artworks remain intact until they are simultaneously repainted in a curated way.
This is a fine commentary piece by Merny, who tends to see the world through a socio-political lens. In this piece, the blue man is filming/photographing other people. I guess it is demonstrating that in this digital age, everything is recorded in one way or another, there is no privacy or freedom from the camera lens gaze. “We’re watching you” happens on a personal as well as institutional level. A lovely piece from Merny.
4930. St Werburghs tunnel (335)
There was a little bit of an RBF crew party in the tunnel just before Christmas, with a great turnout, and one of the artists, whose work I have not seen much of, is Wispa. Her writing and character might have been the pick of the bunch on account of the snowman, I mean who can resist this guy at Christmas?
Wispa is clearly an accomplished writer who typically writes WISP and occasionally adds a character, and with this piece she has smashed both. The letters are nice ones to play with, and give plenty of scope for fills, curves and straight lines. The triple border works really well, picking out the letters and helping them to stand out from the wall.
Raymond Briggs, may he rest in peace, would have loved this faithful rendition of his loveable character, right down to the cross-hatching on his hat and scarf. This is a fabulous Christmas piece from Wispa. I hope she comes back to Bristol soon with more great work.
4929. M32 Cycle path (193)
A constant high-performer in Bristol is Benjimagnetic with his highly disguised abstract letters that usually, but not always, spell out BEN. This nice little reminder o0f his talent is on the M32 cycle path, immediately below the motorway. It is a good spot to paint if there is light rain or the threat of rain, as it has a bit of an overhang to shelter under.
Benjimagnetic always chooses a clever colour palette and then works his magic, rather like a choreographer, placing each of the elements and details in exactly the right place, to create a pleasing end product that can be viewed superficially or in more depth. A nice piece from the artist.
Uplifting
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Song to melt the heart
a bird deep in a thicket
welcomes longer days
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by Scooj
4928. Temple Way (5)
I have driven past this piece countless times on my way to Temple Meads station, and always meant to stop for a couple of pictures, but I only got round to it about a month ago…it sometimes happens you know.
The innovative collaboration is by Acer One and Andy Council, who have done so many collaborative pieces in recent years, and rarely produce anything other than outstanding work. The piece is entitled Hybrid, and I am guessing that it is a reference to their different styles working together. The collaboration feels a bit like a half-finished page from a colouring in book, and I wonder whether Andy Council has considered producing a colouring book… on this evidence he could probably create a whole new income stream.
A fabulous collaboration, shared with you at last.
4927. Church Road
Accidental finds are often the most rewarding, and to come across a mural of this size that I had no idea existed was a particular joy. Farrah has painted commissions all over Bristol, and her unique brand of abstract brush stroke pieces are becoming another established feature of the Bristol USP.
This end of terrace wall was sponsored by Park Insurance, for which we are all grateful I’m sure. Farrah, in her Instagram feed, talks about the importance of trees that give us “shelter, stability, food, water and oxygen”. Trees give us a whole lot more, including habitats for wildlife, food, carbon storage and an enormous sense of wellbeing. Although this tree mural can’t provide all of those things, it can certainly help to remind us how important trees are.
Farrah has expertly crafted the tree and some of the creatures in it, such as the squirrel, using her attractive brush stroke style that seems so effortless when you watch videos of her at work. It is a technique that she has perfected and seems to be taking to a higher level all the time. This is a piece definitely worth seeking out if you happen to be in the St George area of Bristol.
Natural adventures 