A gallery of short philosophical musings from the creative mind of Bristol’s #DFTE
all photographs by Scooj
#DFTE
Tag: DFTE (#DFTE)
5593. Cheltenham 2023 (12)
One of the rather nice things about the Cheltenham Paint Festival is that due to its proximity to Bristol, it often feels a bit like a home from home, as a lot of the domestic artists that paint at the CPF are from Bristol. #DFTE is no stranger to the streets of Bristol, and this one at the festival was a real cracker.
‘Thoughts are not facts’ – I love this. It is so true, and yet for so many people thoughts are projected as facts – and I am sure I am guilty of this myself to some degree. I come from an analytical evidence-led training, and work in ma sector where evidence is crucial, so the phrase chimes very strongly with me. #DFTE’s unique font – in this instance with lots of lovely drips – is bold and accessible. A truly wonderful piece, from the unusual philosopher/graffiti writer.
5350. Dean Lane skate park (616)
Is sitting in an ancient medieval monastery in Umbria, Italy, desperate to get out and join the others in the pool, so this will be a short one. #DFTE, continues to delight with his short phrases, written in his distinctive style which he is starting to adapt a little with some extras, in this case some monster drip work.
He asserts,’happiness is being confidently weird’. That might be a #DFTE philosophy, which would fit him perfectly. Sometimes it might be equally appropriate to consider being spontaneously weird or not weird at all to be happy. I do, however like his sentiment and it makes for a good wall message. Ta ta for now, off to the pool. Splash!
5304. Weston-super-Mare
Continuing with the Weston Wallz theme this morning, is this fabulous piece from the enigmatic #DFTE, who after something of a hiatus has come alive over the last year or so, upgrading his small pictures dotted around Bristol to full-size murals with his witty and sometimes wise one-liners.
#DFTE comes from the ‘signwriting’ school of street art, but with his own idiosyncratic twist. In this piece from Weston Walls 2022, the drippy letters, in his own ‘house font’ says “Don’t think too much, just do what makes you happy”. If only it were that easy, but I love the sentiment. #DFTE is another artist who I am lining up for a gallery – watch this space.
5282. Dean Lane skate park (606)
#DFTE is having a bit of a renaissance at the moment, creating some nice work in his unique and humorous philosophical style. In this piece, he has joined forces with Fishlock to create this vibrant collaboration on the famous curved wall in Dean Lane.
In nature, black and yellow colouring often denote danger, not so in this piece where #DFTE has written the phrase, ‘you are not alone’ – a comforting and caring message. The decorations around the writing is by Fishlock and carries several of her favoured motifs. This is an eye-catching piece from the pair, painted during a recent Bristol Mural Collective paint jam.
4617. Cumberland Basin
Sometimes street art is edgy, sometimes political, and sometimes just great fun, and this collaboration by Dave Sharp and #DFTE falls into that latter category. The two pieces on a black buffed wall leap out at you, and it is a sour old soul that couldn’t find something to like about it.
To the left is a fabulous SpongeBob SquarePants piece, by an artist I don’t think I have come across before, Dave Sharp, and what a great job he has done, bringing the children’s cartoon character to life. To the right is a typical philosophical phrase from #DFTE, albeit in a much larger format than his smaller framed pieces. “Happiness is being confidently weird” – I think I can live with that. Nice drips, by the way.
2914. Stokes Croft
Another archive piece, this time from #DFTE, on the famous wall on the corner of Stokes Croft and City Road. This is one of #DFTE’s framed pieces, and if I am honest, I’m not entirely certain that it is still there.
The words ‘We are all in this together‘ have a certain poignancy about them today as we sit in the midst of a global pandemic. I like the sentiment, but I dislike the way our government have rolled out this slogan (as if it was their invention) to try and inject some patriotism and collective responsibility for the fallout of coronavirus. I feel a monumental rant cominng on, so I will end the post now before I bore the living daylights out of you. In cheerier times I would appreciate the words more. I am a big fan of the artist and his alternative style.
2829. Christmas Steps (2)
Never was a message from #DFTE more apt and more welcome. As we find ourselves thrown into lockdown in the UK due to the Coronavirus pandemic, acts of kindness must be at the front of our minds at all times. For my part, having patience with my family is probably the single biggest challenge, but I must chill out and see the good. My wife and kids are amazing people and we have a chance to reset the dial in these unusual circumstances.
This is the second piece of street philosophy from #DFTE on Christmas Steps, right at the top (of the lower section). I rather like the fact that another kind soul has slapped a sticker on this framed installation saying ‘you are beautiful’. Bristol street art bringing out the best in us.
2785. Christmas Steps
I don’t ascend or descend the Christmas Steps all that often these days and perhaps if I did I might have seen this great wheatpaste by #DFTE sooner. The switch from framed installations to pasteups has worked well for the artist and perhaps offers a little bit more scope for locations and a second string to their bow.
The words of wisdom on this one read:
Be yourself, people do not have to like you and you do not have to care #DFTE
Fine words indeed from the self-styled urban philosopher.
2750. Leonard Lane (24)
Do you know what? I think this piece is in Leonard Lane, or at least I think I thought it was, but now I am not so sure. No matter, it is somewhere in Bristol. It is of course by the very original #DFTE whose philosophical musings are scattered around the city.
In this wheatpaste, #DFTE seems to have abandones his framed picture approach in favour of a slightly less labour intensive regular paste up. So here he says:
Never underestimate the healing power of listening to your favourite music on full blast while jumping around the house like an idiot.
This is a sentiment I can absolutely identify with as my rather ashamed kids might testify. Nice paste up and nice words frrom #DFTE.
Natural adventures 