Tag: Bristol

2108. Upfest 2018 (135)

At the launch of the ‘Cannon Fodder’ show last Friday I was lamenting the lack of wheatpaste artists in Bristol with Jimmer Willmott. It was Kid Crayon’s brilliant wheatpastes dotted around the city that inspired me to write about street art in the first place, but he has moved away from the form. However, what was very exciting was that Jimmer said he was thinking about doing some… now that would be amazing.

The exception to the rule occurs during upfest, when wheatpasters descend on North Street and festoon walls and lamp posts with their paste ups. One of the frequent visitors I look forward to each year is Face the Strange, and who can blame me with pieces like this one?

Face the Strange, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
Face the Strange, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018

Face the Strange challenges the viewer by presenting ordinary images, often models from magazines, that have had major head surgery. This bizarre piece combines a suited worker with a seahorse… but of course why not? I am a big fan of this kind of distortion, particularly when combined with marine life. Fun.

Never give up

.

MV 2.5

we are living a nightmare

May clutching at straws

.

by Scooj

  • MV 2.5 = meaningful vote 2.5. Unbelievable sleight of hand by Theresa May to try and force her deal through by splitting it into two thus avoiding rejection by the Speaker. As if bribing her party, promising to quit if they supported her wasn’t bad enough. She and the Conservative party have no shame.

Parent’s evening

.

Anxious walk to school

hearing truths from the half-truths

peddled back at home.

.

by Scooj

Thursday doors

Doors 65

This week I have decided to share a whole bunch of doors from Bristol Temple Meads Station. Famed for its ‘passenger shed’ designed by I.K. Brunell and for being the focal point of the Great Western Railway (God’s Wonderful Railway) between London and Penzance.

Rather than photograph obvious doors in the station itself (apart from the first picture) I am sharing some of the doors located underneath the car park in front of the station. The structural archways have provided storage areas since the station was built and some have been hired out to private businesses, a common practice for railway infrastructure around the globe.

Small wooden kiosk, Temple Meads Station, Bristol
Small wooden kiosk, Temple Meads Station, Bristol

The Feature image and first picture show a small wooden kiosk just inside the main entrance of the station. I don’t know how many hundreds of times I have walked past this kiosk over the years, but I only recently noticed it. It is overlooked in one’s hurried efforts to shuffle through the barriers and onto the platforms. A little gem.

 

Doors to storeroom, Temple Meads Station, Bristol
Doors to storeroom, Temple Meads Station, Bristol
Doors to storeroom, Temple Meads Station, Bristol - why the drill holes in the bottom of the door?
Doors to storeroom, Temple Meads Station, Bristol – why the drill holes in the bottom of the door?
Doors to storeroom, Temple Meads Station, Bristol - Repair work in brick
Doors to storeroom, Temple Meads Station, Bristol – Repair work in brick
Doors to storeroom, Temple Meads Station, Bristol - Danger
Doors to storeroom, Temple Meads Station, Bristol – Danger

Finally the worst ‘best kept secret’ in Bristol – Hart’s Bakery – Creator of divine cakes, pastries, breads and life-limiting fancies. The bakery that makes it worth being early for your train to make a quick food diversion.

Hart's Bakery, Arch 35, Temple Meads Station, Bristol - Arguably the best bakery in Bristol
Hart’s Bakery, Arch 35, Temple Meads Station, Bristol – Arguably the best bakery in Bristol

So that’s it for this week.

More doors to be admired by following the links at the end of the fabulous Norm 2.0 blog: Thursday Doors – Norm 2.0

Until next time,

Scooj.

2106. Upfest 2018 (133)

Woah, steady on there… I love this crazy piece by Tknaizer. The artist, from Georgia, seems to have a thing for giraffes, and in my mind that is absolutely ok. Who doesn’t love a giraffe?

Tknaizer, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
Tknaizer, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018

This piece was painted in North Street Green and had to compete for attention with dozens of others but certainly attracted my attention. There is something endearing and compelling about the simple and naive style. Sometimes less is more. Despite the rather gloomy narrative, I find the giraffe full of optimism and serenity. It is always great to welcome these overseas artists to Bristol and see the range of talent on offer.

2104. Upfest 2018 (131)

When I looked at this collaboration for the first time I found it rather peculiar because it carries three very different styles and subject matter and the only common thread at first sight appears to be Upfest. However, this primary assessment rather overlooks several other important factors in creating a good collaboration.

Process, Korp and Winniemmay, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
Process, Korp and Winniemmay, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018

Firstly, I think that the chemistry between collaborators is hugely important which is why for example, SPZero76 and Kid Crayon collaborate brilliantly despite very different styles – they are great collaborating friends. So, in this collaboration between Process, Korp and Winniemmay one can see some good vibes going on. There is also a design thread that carries through the whole piece of black and white dots and dashes, suggesting Morse code (but I think that is me over-thinking it).

Process, Korp and Winniemmay, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
Process, Korp and Winniemmay, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018

The overall outcome is certainly curious and apparently fragmented, but dip in a little further and the whole is probably greater than the sum of the parts. If there is a story here, I’d like to know it, but for me the whole thing stands up for me and it is really interesting piece.

2103. St Werburghs tunnel (70)

I have said it ad nauseam that Mr Klue is being incredibly productive these days and I guess I will continue to say it for as long as he keeps painting these wonderful pieces. This slightly smaller than usual one contains a character who appears reasonably regularly on Mr Klue’s work.

Mr Klue, St Werburghs, Bristol, March 2019
Mr Klue, St Werburghs, Bristol, March 2019

There is the suggestion of a man in a shirt and tie wearing what looks like the Mad Hatter’s hat complete with 10/6 label. I like the smokey, wispy abstract style that Mr Klue uses and the fact theat he is constantly playing with etherial ideas. All good.

Rough sleeper

.

I don’t want to smell

no one wants to be smelly;

have you got two pounds?

.

by Scooj

  • Part of a longer conversation with a man that I met this morning. Expletives removed.

2101. Nelson Street (9)

Kin Dose (part1)

I am struggling to write this post, mainly because I am lost for words at how very good the mural by Kin Dose, just off Nelson Street in the centre of town, is. In my view this is a worldie and we are honoured and privileged to see a wall of such beauty in Bristol.

Kin Dose, Nelson Street, Bristol, March 2019
Kin Dose, Nelson Street, Bristol, March 2019

The whole scene is of a beautiful geisha under the shade of a paper parasol gracefully holding out her hand upon which a splendid kingfisher sits. This is close to street art perfection, and were it not for the bloody wheelie bins, which I attempted to move, it would pretty much be there.

Kin Dose, Nelson Street, Bristol, March 2019
Kin Dose, Nelson Street, Bristol, March 2019

The background to the piece is composed of layers of graffiti and burners blended into a japanese scene of mountains and buildings. There is something similar to the style of PichiAvo in this.

Kin Dose, Nelson Street, Bristol, March 2019
Kin Dose, Nelson Street, Bristol, March 2019

The face of the geisha is absolutely beautiful and not in any way overcomplicated. The flowers cascading from her hair add a real touch of class. The last component of the piece is the kingfisher perching on her hand.

Kin Dose, Nelson Street, Bristol, March 2019
Kin Dose, Nelson Street, Bristol, March 2019

I feel it would be wrong not to point out that the kingfisher is a small bird, and in this piece, ever so slightly out of proportion. But I am nit-picking and I hate myself for it, because this is a truly wonderous piece and really ups the game for the high-end street art talent in this great city. Bravo! Kin Dose.

But it gets even better. Not content with creating one oriental wall on this building, Kin Dose returned to paint a second one a week or so later…see my next post.

Sorrow

 

Classical music

reaches the heart of a man

a solemn tonic.

 

by Scooj