In the shadow of
the leaning tower, homeless
people sleep in tents.
by Scooj
Tag: Bristol
254. Stokes Croft, the Carriageworks (12)
With one month to go before the referendum to decide on whether Great Britain should stay in the European Union, things are hotting up. This is an extraordinary commission from a group who are encouraging voters to remain in the EU. The wall is where the Bruno Smoky ‘burning house‘ piece was.
I was lucky enough to see the artist working on this piece on my way to work yesterday morning. I stopped and chatted with him, while he painted. He is Felix (FLX) Braun, one of the original Bristol street artists and author of ‘children of the can‘ a seminal book cataloging the birth and growth of Bristol street art. Felix is one half of the Paintsmiths who created this tribute to Mibsy.
We had a great discussion about the tagging that seems to be everywhere in Bristol at the moment, and he views it very much as part of the development of the whole graffiti art scene. He does a lot of work with youth groups, often from difficult backgrounds, and teaches them to spray and develop their skills. I believe he also works with art students at the University of the West of England in Bristol.
The piece itself is a deliberately provocative and grotesque image of Donald Trump and Boris Johnson kissing…so much crazy hair! The intention is for the image, and others like it, to go viral, thus reaching and encouraging young voters to register and vote on the day of the referendum. It is known that younger people are much more pro EU than people over 60, but are less likely to vote.
I will be playing my part by using the limited means I have on digital media to reach as many people as possible with this message.
Technically this is a great piece by a great artist, and although a commission, has all the hallmarks of the ‘Bristol thing’ about it. I love it.
253. Dean Lane skate park (5)
This is a spot favoured by Eraze and his friends. As I have mentioned before the turnover of work at Dean Lane skate park is quite phenomenal. I photographed this piece at the beginning of April, and within a couple of weeks it was completely overpainted.
I think that there are quite a few similarities between the work of Eraze and Laic217, something to do with the bright colours and rough edges, combined with lettering and characters.
This is an amusing piece. I think the word spells ‘dope’… more drug references.
Plastic sheep
In pebble dash fields
Spring lambs frolic unaware
of the urban sprawl.
by Scooj
Swift
With my eyes closed I
can hear the shrill cries of swifts
signalling Summer.
by Scooj
252. No fixed abode (1)
I caught sight of this caravan across the M32 while out for a walk last week. It had all the hallmarks of a work by Aspire, but it wasn’t until I downloaded the pictures onto my PC that I was able to see the signature.
When I see a piece like this, which I might add is another beauty, I am left with so many questions. Who lives in the caravan? How does Aspire know them? Was it a commission? and so on. This is an unusual and distinctive piece.
251. Hepburn Road (3)
This little side street just off Stokes Croft is a very popular spot with DNT and his friends, one of whom is Mr Klue. We are used to seeing rather more abstract pieces from Mr Klue, so this seated figure with a hat would have to go down as one of the more unusual pieces by him.
I really like the calmness of the work and it’s distinctive style. He is an artist I am really enjoying at the moment.
The nun’s priest’s tale
Chauntecleer was proud
the fox was even prouder
Pertelote knew this.
by Scooj
250. The Bearpit (18)
Since becoming aware of Laic217’s work work only a matter of two months ago, I seem to find his stuff everywhere. This is his latest piece that can be found on the staircase down into The Bearpit on the Northern side.
The head, and the colours used in this piece remind me of ‘the Mekon‘ who was the alien villain in the Dan Dare strip from the Eagle comic. My grandparents had a set of Eagle annuals, and I would read them from cover to cover when I used to stay. I ought to add, that they had belonged to my uncles, and that I was reading them several years after their publication. I digress.
I believe Laic217’s work is finding its place in the general order of Bristol street art, and is continually improving. He belongs to a small group of street artists that spray in both North and South Bristol. This is a good piece.
One trick pony
Other poetry
scares the living daylights out
of me; not ready.
by Scooj
Natural adventures 