Tag: Collaboration

2121. M32 roundabout J3 (134)

It is always great fun to see how street artists can play with each other’s work. For example, this piece is not a collaboration, it is an add-on. The original work was a RAW collaboration the centrepiece of which was this fabulous character by Jaksta.

Jaksta, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2019
Jaksta, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2019

Turnover on this wall has been unusually high this spring and when ‘the monday club’ a group of artists including Nevergiveup, Tasha Bee, Soap, Run Z and Zake set about painting here, Nevergiveup worked around Jaksta’s piece almost like a respect thing, his bunnies leaning in towards the character, together with a carefully, thoughtfully resprayed background.

Jaksta, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2019
Jaksta, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2019

Often Jaksta’s characters are well known film stars or personalities, but I’m not sure I know who this is. What we have here is two pieces for the price of one… and some more bunnies for the collection.

Jaksta and Nevergiveup, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2019
Jaksta and Nevergiveup, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2019

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.

2034. Dean Lane skate park (193)

A couple of days back I posted a great piece by the lovely artist Cros, and said that I had seen some of his work before – this is that work. Back in September Cros and his friend Lorris took over two-thirds of the long wall at Dean Lane to produce this wonderful collaboration.

Cros, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2018
Cros, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2018

The letters Cros creates tend to be quite angular, but have a soft touch to them. His fills are really neat too with all sorts of nice patterns and shapes in green, orange and black. Everything is neat and tidy and I like his rings and arrows, both classic writing motifs.

Lorris, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2018
Lorris, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2018

This is the first piece (I hope of many) by Lorris that I have posted and it is a really charming piece. Now, I wonder if I would have said it has a feminine touch if I hadn’t known that Lorris was a woman. Difficult to know really – the lettering in soft and curvy, but the clincher is the hair bow on the ‘O’ of Lorris…I can’t imagine a male artist ever spraying a hair bow in anything other than a photorealistic portrait. All my unconscious bias being laid bare there. Anyhow I really like her style and can’t wait to see more.

1925. M32 roundabout J3 (112)

Even when it seems like there is nothing much going on, mainly because of the damp weather, I find that I am rarely disappointed when I go to check a wall to see if there is anything new.

Silent Hobo, M32 roundabout, Bristol, December 2018
Silent Hobo, M32 roundabout, Bristol, December 2018

My reward for nipping down to the M32 roundabout a week or so back was this magnificent, and rare, collaboration by Silent Hobo and Logoe. I met this pair painting together about a year ago, and they clearly enjoy each other’s company.

Silent Hobo, M32 roundabout, Bristol, December 2018
Silent Hobo, M32 roundabout, Bristol, December 2018

Judging from the ‘Rad Dads’ slogan, I am guessing that this is a message about the status of the artists. I wonder if the depiction in the Silent Hobo half of this piece is a self-portrait (almost certainly) and whether he actually painted this piece with a child strapped to his chest.

Logoe, M32 roundabout, Bristol, December 2018
Logoe, M32 roundabout, Bristol, December 2018

Logoe’s writing is distinctive, from the little I have seen, having a sort of joined-up hand writing look to it. Overall I love this collaboration and the sentiments of pride in, and love for their children. Great stuff for the Christmas holidays.

1906. Upfest 2018 (102)

One of the things to look forward to each year at Upfest is the collaborations from Caro Pepe and AgeAge. There is a chemistry when these two come together, not only in their styles, but in their personalities. It is obvious that they really enjoy working together and this is reflected in the fusion of their work.

Caro Pepe and AgeAge, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
Caro Pepe and AgeAge, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018

Caro Pepe paints the faces, usually female and usually with one eye obscured in some way. AgeAge creates the robotic machinery that intertwines with the character. This pairing painted this wall last year too, so it could be considered their wall I think. I’m hoping that they will be returning next year.

Age Age and Caro Pepe, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Age Age and Caro Pepe, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

1753. Dean Lane skate park (171)

This collaboration is a real treat and raises the bar by quite some margin. It is by Subtle and Rezwonk and is quite the best collaboration I have seen on this wall this year, in fact possible anywhere in Bristol.

Rezwonk and Subtle, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2018
Rezwonk and Subtle, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2018

Rezwonk has provided an incredible background of little white symbols – actually I think they are made up of the letters R E Z W O N K, and in amongst them are some bright green ones randomly spaced. Each of the symbols has been dabbed, probably with a cloth, to give them some texture. This really does provide a perfect backdrop.

Rezwonk and Subtle, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2018
Rezwonk and Subtle, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2018

The writing from Subtle is nothing short of sublime, every single part of it touching on perfect, right down to the hex shading on the S and the T providing texture and interest, but it is the 3D effect that really sets this piece apart. It is hard to look at it and not be fooled into thinking it has been written on a board that stands proud of the wall by a couple of inches. Also some of the accents have picked up the same bright green used by Rezwonk, to provide some read-across between the two.

An utterly outstanding collaboration that takes collaborations to a new level.

1631. Dean Lane skate park (149)

I always look forward to Kleiner Shames’ visits to Bristol, because every time he leaves behind something to marvel at. This is a miraculous collaboration with Epok, and demonstrates what can be achieved by two street artists at the top of their game.

Kleiner Shames and Epok, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2018
Kleiner Shames and Epok, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2018

The first thing to notice is the fabulous colour selection, which is very much influenced by Kleiner Shames, as I have seen him use these colours several times before. The genius of the piece is in the letters. Epok always writes EPOK and Kleiner Shames writes FOIS. In this piece I can read both…how do they do that?

Kleiner Shames and Epok, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2018
Kleiner Shames and Epok, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2018

The highly designed style of the piece works to both of their strengths, but the execution is what makes this piece so good. Clean lines, incredible shapes and some really interesting shadows. It reminds me of so many fine artists of the twentieth century. I love this piece and it is without doubt my favourite writing work so far this year. Bravo boys.

1571. M32 roundabout J3 (88)

What a lovely collaboration between two artists that are highly regarded in Bristol, but whose work I don’t often get to see, Ulow and Hemper. The character on the left is by Ulow and is expertly painted. It is impossible not to marvel at the subtle shades he uses and the folds in the material – a sophisticated cartoon style character.

Hemper, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2018
Hemper, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2018

On the right is a wonderful piece of writing from the master Hemper. I wonder if he needed an extra foot of height on this wall. I have found it hard to find out too much about Hemper, but keep coming across his work from time to time. I have found the best way to find out more about the artists is through a serendipitous meeting while they are at work. This has not yet happened between me and Hemper, although it has with Ulow.

Ulow and Hemper, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2018
Ulow and Hemper, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2018

1404. Jardins de les Tres Xemeneies, Barcelona (1)

This is the first of my posts from an Easter trip to Barcelona with my daughter. Although it was not a street art hunting break, I managed to come across some great spots thanks entirely to the great advice and help from Lewis Duncan, author of the excellent ‘No Grey Walls‘ WordPress site, to whom I am indebted.

I do not pretend to know anything about the artists in this collaboration and Lewis writes much more authoritatively about this piece in his own recent post about it, so I will direct you there for more detailed information. Instead I will leave you with some pretty pictures to look at. If I knew this spot better, I would know to come at a different time of day, as the sun was behind the wall making photography a little challenging.

Christian Blanxer, Jardins de les Tres Xemeneies, Barcelona, March 2018
Christian Blanxer, Jardins de les Tres Xemeneies, Barcelona, March 2018

The left hand side of the collaboration is by Christian Blanxer.

Saturno, Jardins de les Tres Xemeneies, Barcelona, March 2018
Saturno, Jardins de les Tres Xemeneies, Barcelona, March 2018

The middle section is by Saturno

Erase, Jardins de les Tres Xemeneies, Barcelona, March 2018
Erase, Jardins de les Tres Xemeneies, Barcelona, March 2018

The right hand section by Erase.

The collaboration really is a treat, and one of the best pieces I saw in Barcelona – I’m just so glad that I timed my visit to perfection.

Christian Blanxer, Saturno and Erase, Jardins de les Tres Xemeneies, Barcelona, March 2018
Christian Blanxer, Saturno and Erase, Jardins de les Tres Xemeneies, Barcelona, March 2018

1241. Dean Lane skate park (100)

It is a rare thing for me to come across an Andy Council piece that is not a composite of buildings to create a beast of some kind. Equally rare is to see an Andy Council collaboration, but here is a piece that he sprayed just before Christmas with Hemper in the far corner of Dean Lane, and it is a real humdinger.

Andy Council and Hemp, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2017
Andy Council and Hemp, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2017

I don’t know much about Hemper other than that he is a well established and highly regarded writer in Bristol and I have only come across his work a couple of times. This collaboration feels like a bit of fun between two friends. Andy Council has made a character out of his ammonite signature, which has turned out really well. This was a nice piece to find, even though I got to it too late to see it untagged.