Tag: Decay

2364. M32 roundabout J3 (156)

This is the other half of an outstanding collaboration between Rezwonk and Decay from a couple of weeks back, and for both artists was a great success. Here Rezwonk or Rezer as he writes, plays with the same themes that Decay used and with equal success.

Rezwonk, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2019
Rezwonk, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2019

There is a lot of movement in this piece, aided by the explosive flames around the lettering. The whole thing is deliberately rather busy, typified by the patches of spots and clouds in the background. It seems that each of the artists have approached this collaboration with their own identities, but in sharing themes and ideas have played off one another to create two great individual pieces and a great shared piece. So good.

Decay, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2019
Decay, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2019

2350. M32 roundabout J3 (154)

Decay is one of the most featured artists in Natural Adventures at the moment on account of his incredible productivity and I dread to think what his monthly paint bill must be. I mentioned in a recent post that his work is getting better with each new piece and that trend is continuing. I think that he is reaching a new level and although my expectations are raised, he is largely exceeding them with each new work.

Decay, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2019
Decay, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2019

This beautiful piece is part of a collaboration with Rezwonk (to follow) on one of the long walls of the M32 roundabout. There is so much movement and animation with the explosions and decorations that the whole thing is a feast for the eyes. It is not that long ago that Decay confined his work largely to a palette of red, greys, black and white, what a contrast with the hugely colourful work he is producing now. This is another gem from the man.

2334. Wilder Street (35)

Painted for the St Paul’s carnival, this is a wonderful collaboration by Decay and Pekoe. Of course the colour scheme of red, gold and green is wholly commensurate with the colours of the festival, the colours of the Rastafarian movement.

Decay, Wilder Street, Bristol, July 2019
Decay, Wilder Street, Bristol, July 2019

On the left is another stunning Decay piece in his full writing form, see previous post. There is such confidence now in this form which contains some regular features, such as the ‘rays’ in the top half of his letters, and of course his character, Chuck, as the letter ‘e’.

Pekoe, Wilder Street, Bristol, July 2019
Pekoe, Wilder Street, Bristol, July 2019

On the right is a joyful collection of faces, representing the local community looking on in wonder. I do think that Pekoe’s naive style captures the expression and mood of people in a way that is uncomplicated and unpretentious. I love her work.

Decay, Wilder Street, Bristol, July 2019
Decay, Wilder Street, Bristol, July 2019

Altogether, this is a fabulous and time -appropriate collaboration. Great to see these two working together.

2333. Devon Road (12)

I have seen so many recent pieces by Decay, where the one I am looking at feels to me like it is the best one so far. This time, I’m not sure that sequence can continue, because this piece just off Devon Road is close to perfect in my eyes.

Decay, Devon Road, Bristol, July 2019
Decay, Devon Road, Bristol, July 2019

This form of his name is a familiar sight all over Bristol and indeed in Natural Adventures, but this one is of the highest quality in terms of location, colour selection, shading and fills and background. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts and it is just brilliant. There may be people reading this who don’t really ‘get’ graffiti writing, I used to be one myself, but all I can tell you is that this is good, very, very good.

2311. St Werburghs tunnel (87)

It just keeps getting better and better from Decay, and there seems to be a joyful freedom about his work at the moment. This gorgeous piece is just by the entrance to St Werburghs tunnel and has an instant presence or class about it.

Decay, St Werburghs, Bristol, July 2019
Decay, St Werburghs, Bristol, July 2019

The wall is not high and so Decay has had to vertically squeeze his writing into a limited space, creating more regularity to his letter heights than he is used to when he has more space. Perhaps this is why this piece looks rather different from his recent writing pattern. It might also be the great colour selections and fill in his letters. Whatever it is, I think that this is a very nice piece indeed from one of the most productive artists in Bristol this year.

2296. M32 Cycle path (32)

This is an interesting piece by Decay along the M32 cycle path that uses minimal colours to great effect. Looking at his work recently has brought us on a bit of an adventure, crossing over from his abstract work into his writing, while retaining his little character ‘Chuck’ throughout. This piece almost feels like it is a reversion back to the abstract, even though it does spell out DECAY.

Decay, M32 cycle path, Bristol, June 2019
Decay, M32 cycle path, Bristol, June 2019

Decay has been incredibly prolific this year and has also teamed up regularly with other artists including Rezwonk and Nightwayss. It is interesting how artists build up these paint friendships which seem to be more linked to their personalities than their styles (take SPZero76 and Kid Crayon of the Eat crew for example).

Decay, M32 cycle path, Bristol, June 2019
Decay, M32 cycle path, Bristol, June 2019

It would appear that Decay has recently joined the LRS Krew (Last Radical Souls) who seem to be a loosely connected global crew who write the LRS everywhere. Here is his contribution (which is rather classier than many of the others on their Instagram feed) which he painted adjacent to the piece above. Always great work from Decay.

2277. M32 roundabout J3 (149)

As a teenager I was fairly obsessed with 2-Tone Records, in particular The Specials, so much so that a plaster cast I had on my broken leg as a sixteen-year-old was decorated from top to bottom in black and white squares. So imagine my unbridled delight at finding this 2-Tonetastick collaboration between Rezwonk and Decay douwn at the M32 roundabout.

Rezwonk, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2019
Rezwonk, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2019

I wonder if this piece was inspired in any way by the recent release of a new album from the Specials. On the left Rezwonk has written his name split into six sections in reversed black and white boxes. Some additional accent decorations in red just add a little extra interest.

Decay, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2019
Decay, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2019

On the right Decay has written his name in a continuation of the reversed black and white boxes and he too has incorporated some red in the form of his little ‘e’ character Chuck. The dancing rude boy, the filling in the sandwich, could be by either of them, but I’m putting my money on Decay. A joyful collaboration.

2250. New Stadium Road (13)

Decay is really doing some special work at the moment. His new form, writing his name is this style, is so very pleasing on the eye and allows him to experiment with all sorts of colour variations.

Decay, New Stadium Road, Bristol, May 2019
Decay, New Stadium Road, Bristol, May 2019

This piece was part part of a collaborative wall with Rezwonk and Nightwayss and these three painted another wall some 30 yards away at the same time. Lots more to share from these sessions. Loving this Decay renaissance.

2220. North Street

Decay is totally excelling at the moment, and it seems to me that each new piece he produces is better than the last. In the last year he has entered into a world of colour selections that might at one time have been unimaginable. This new piece is on the hoardings in North Street, curated by Upfest.

Decay, North Street, Bristol, May 2019
Decay, North Street, Bristol, May 2019

Not the easiest piece in the world to photograph and looking at the hazards around it, probably not the easiest to paint either. I truly believe Decay has found a new level in his work, but he needs to slow down… I’m having difficulty keeping up!

2173. M32 roundabout J3 (141)

There is no question about it, Rezwonk and Decay enjoy working together, and this collaboration really brings out the best in both. I took this picture while killing two birds with one stone…walking the dog and grabbing some pictures at the same time.

Rezwonk, M32, Bristol, April 2019
Rezwonk, M32, Bristol, April 2019

I think that this is one of my favourite pieces of writing from Rezwonk so far (spelling REZER) – some lovely letter shapes and nice clean lines. The colour selection for the collaboration as a whole is inspired and works really well on a sunny day.

Decay, M32, Bristol, April 2019
Decay, M32, Bristol, April 2019

I have said it before, but I am really enjoying Decay’s current writing period, each piece I see just seems to get better and better.The curves on the letters have a wonderful 3D feel to them and the cheeky Chuck grins on. A great collaboration that has managed to remain for a while in this high-turnover spot.