Tag: Graffiti

2148. Shoreditch, London (30)

I took a walk with my sister, who lives in London, a week ago and on her suggestion we headed over towards Brick Lane. On the way there we passed this wonderful stencil by Unify, which definitely met with her approval. There is something rather special about doorway art… perhaps it is the combination of two of my loves – street art and doors.

Unify, Shoreditch, London, April 2019
Unify, Shoreditch, London, April 2019

In my view, there is something a little sad about this chimpanzee who has sprayed ‘I Love You’ on the door, as if completely misunderstood and marginalised and yet still articulating love. We humans have done just about our worst when it comes to the fragile ecosystems where our great primates live but they bear us no grudges… that would be a human quality.

I love Unify’s work, but find that it is often tinged with a little sadness.

2147. Nomadic community garden, London (1)

This is a really unusual piece by Aspire in a rather unusual setting. The nomadic community garden just off Brick Lane is an example of extreme Bohemian living. A collection of allotment huts, some of which are mini cafes, and a few small plots surrounded by graffiti and street art. It is a completely bonkers public space that has to be seen to be understood.

Aspire, Nomadic Community Garden, Brick Lane, London, April 2019
Aspire, Nomadic Community Garden, Brick Lane, London, April 2019

I would normally associate birds and other wildlife with Aspire, so this rather ghoulish portrayal of Mother Teresa came as a bit of a surprise package. It is definitely by Aspire as it is signed with his characteristic signature in the colours used for the piece. My sister didn’t like this, and I tried to explain to her that it was not typical of his work. Personally I like to see artists switch it up from time to time. A fine piece.

2146. Shoreditch, London (29)

Sweet Toof is a London artist who has always had strong links with Bristol especially through his long-standing friendship with Rowdy. Even now, there are several toothy pieces dotted around the city. It is funny, but I have always thought of him as a Bristol artist, because of his legacy here.

Sweet Toof, Shoreditch, London, April 2019
Sweet Toof, Shoreditch, London, April 2019

It was extra special to find this triptych of shutters, that look rather recent, when in London last weekend walking in the Brick Lane area with my sister. It doesn’t seem to matter where I pitch up in the world, there always seems to be a Sweet Toof piece close by.

Sweet Toof, Shoreditch, London, April 2019
Sweet Toof, Shoreditch, London, April 2019

These three are really rather special, and have a feel of ‘see no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil’ about them. It is nice to see the three different aspects of the skulls. Obviously that Master’s degree from the Royal Academy of Arts was not wasted.

Sweet Toof, Shoreditch, London, April 2019
Sweet Toof, Shoreditch, London, April 2019

I do like Sweet Toof’s work very much indeed, always blending mortality with humour in his incredibly distinctive style. Great find.

2145. Dean Lane skate park (205)

I haven’t seen a whole lot of Mr Draws’ work lately – I think he has been out and about, but by the time I get to find his pieces they have been over-painted, so it was most gratifying to come across this one in Dean Lane last week.

Mr Draws, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2019
Mr Draws, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2019

His ideas are simple and his execution very much in the style of high-class bombers, but in my mind what really sets him apart from others is his willingness to try new concepts and colour patterns. This piece really works for me, it is easy on the eye and I just can’t stop myself following the purple spiral from the centre outwards and back again. The multicoloured fill is a joy. All good from Mr Draws.

2144. Lower Ashley Road (3)

Never really at risk of slipping through the net, but posted much later than I had hoped is this magnificent piece by Sled One at the bottom of Lower Ashley Road where construction work has begun. It didn’t take long for the construction company to disrupt any street/graffiti art from making it onto this hoarding, but I think this piece survives.

Sled One, Lower Ashley Road, Bristol, February 2019
Sled One, Lower Ashley Road, Bristol, February 2019

Sled One brings us another creature from his imagination which spells out the word ASK. I think it is a cat – he does a lot of cats – but it is the sketch of a fish on the cat’s shoulder that really makes me smile, so simple but so engaging.

Sled One, Lower Ashley Road, Bristol, February 2019
Sled One, Lower Ashley Road, Bristol, February 2019

For the last couple of months Sled One has been on a real roll, and it is always an immense pleasure to see his work on the streets. I must get round to updating his gallery.

Meow!

2143. Moon Street (64)

In Bristol it would seem at the moment that one is never far away from a Mr Klue piece. He is keeping very busy indeed, and this was from a couple of weeks back, during a paint session with Mr Sleven and DNT.

Mr Klue, Moon Street, Bristol, March 2019
Mr Klue, Moon Street, Bristol, March 2019

Using, what I am guessing are his favourite colours (he uses them a lot) he has created another calming abstract writing piece that possibly spells out KLUE (or you can even read WONE – Mr Klue’s surname). His light touch pieces always have an ephemeral feel about them, that they might just waft away on the breeze. Still loads more to come.

2142. M32 Spot (40)

I haven’t posted much by Tasha Bee lately, not because she hasn’t been painting, but more because I haven’t been able to get out much over the past fortnight. This one is under the M32 in the wet-weather DIY skate park, known as the M32 Spot.

Tasha Bee, M32 Spot, Bristol, March 2019
Tasha Bee, M32 Spot, Bristol, March 2019

Sprayed on one of the ramps rather than on a wall, this is another of her calm, soulful trademark figures with beautifully decorated hair. Recently she has been working or her writing which from the Instagram shots I have seen is really exciting. Unfortunately I’ve not seen any yet… it’s a turnover thing.

2141. M32 roundabout J3 (137)

Great to see this amazing collaboration between Pekoe and Mr Sleven lurking to the far left of one of the walls of the M32 roundabout. I’m not sure if I have seen a collaboration between these two before, although I do know they paint together quite a lot.

Pekoe, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2019
Pekoe, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2019

The green portrait on the left is by the wonderful Pekoe and resembles a rather attractive Shrek-type ogre, or is it the empath from Guardians of the Galaxy 2. Neither probably, but a striking image nonetheless. Great hair.

Pekoe and Mr Sleven, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2019
Pekoe and Mr Sleven, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2019

The writing by Mr Sleven is in a really unusual style, appearing almost as if it is organic in some way. The letters spell out SLEV, wityh the ‘V’ being a heart. Is this love between the two artists? I have no idea, but this is a neat collaboration brought together nicely with the green colour shared between both halves.

2140. Dean Lane skate park (204)

Not very often, but often enough to satisfy the appetite, Dibz creates one of his extremely precise and complex pieces of wild style writing. I have seen a few where he uses this black and red combination which he seems to favour.

Dibz, Dean Lane, Bristol, March 2019
Dibz, Dean Lane, Bristol, March 2019

Somewhere in there it probably says DIBZ, but I’ll be darned if I can find it. The whole thing is just so sharp and crisp, and technically pretty close to perfection. This is what the highest quality writing looks like. Bravo Dibz.

2139. Park Street (3)

There is this rather interesting crossover that occurs when a street artist paints a commission and I can never quite admire a commission as much as a piece from the heart. Maybe that is just me. On the one hand, businesses are supporting artists and paying them for their work, and this is so obviously a great thing. On the other hand, the artist paints to a brief and in some sense loses a degree of freedom. This piece, by the brilliant Silent Hobo, was commissioned by Averys – one of Bristol’s long-established wine merchants, and is actually perfect for the location.

Silent Hobo, Park Street, Bristol, March 2019
Silent Hobo, Park Street, Bristol, March 2019

Once again, we have a Bristol fox featured in a piece of local street art… note to self, I must do a ‘fox gallery’ sometime. The stairway is at the bottom of Park Street and leads directly into Frogmore Road that runs underneath. Follow the sign to Averys and you will walk past two outstanding JPS stencils and a wonderful 3Dom abstract piece. Not to mention the Banksy nearby. A little street art hotspot.