5907. Easton Road

 

Caryn Koh, Easton Road, Bristol, March 2024
Caryn Koh, Easton Road, Bristol, March 2024

Another diversion away from my usual routes took me to Easton Road where I came across this magnificent mural from Caryn Koh, possibly the last thing I might have expected to see in this part of town. What is disappointing is that my son’s work is very close to this mural, and he never thought to let me know it was there.

Caryn Koh, Easton Road, Bristol, March 2024
Caryn Koh, Easton Road, Bristol, March 2024

This is a powerful portrait of a woman superimposed or floating over a pond with beautiful water lilies in it, but look a little closer and you can see that the pond is polluted with plastic bags and bottles and straws, a commentary and observation in the state of our environment. One day it would be nice to think that people, those in power and citizens alike, would learn to value nature and habitats because we live here and now. Who wants to live on a planet with diminishing beauty and wildlife?… let’s watch the hands go up. Nobody. So we must do what we can do to live in a better world, and that doesn’t have to equate to one where financial wealth is the only goal.

Thank you Caryn Koh for using your art to socialise the issue.

3855. Upfest 2021 75×75 (34)

Compared to some of the flamboyant pieces painted at this year’s Upfest 75 walls in 75 days event, this one from Caryn Koh is delicately understated, and the wall set back from the main drag of North Street. The low-key nature of the mural should not, however, detract from its quality and the story it tells.

Caryn Koh, Exeter Road, Bristol, July 2021, Upfest 21
Caryn Koh, Exeter Road, Bristol, July 2021, Upfest 21

Dr Caryn Koh, to give her full title, has painted this mural of two of her cousins and the story of the artwork in her own words is as follows:

The mural situated at Exeter Road, Bristol, is about the relationship between siblings; how we unknowingly grow apart and have our separate paths on life’s journey but there is that unbreakable bond that binds us together.

The piece is an absolute beauty and comes across more as a fine art piece than a street mural. Really impressive.

Caryn Koh, Exeter Road, Bristol, July 2021, Upfest 21
Caryn Koh, Exeter Road, Bristol, July 2021, Upfest 21

Caryn Koh is from Malaysia, although I don’t know whether she came over to Bristol specially for Upfest or whether she is in the UK in any case. Either way, it is fabulous to see her work on this scale in our city. Another outstanding piece from Upfest 2021.