I love visiting new spots, and although I have known about Lawrence Hill roundabout for a little while, I just haven’t managed to visit until recently. Actually I took the dog for a walk there, killing two birds with one stone.
Zake, Lawrence Hill, Bristol, February 2019
There is a lot of graffiti in each of the tunnels, but of really variable quality. It also looks like turnover is pretty low as some of the pieces looked rather old and tatty. Not this wonderful piece by Zake though. I am more used to seeing his faces on the columns under the M32, so it is great to see something that doesn’t have a width restriction. Three brilliantly expressive faces in differing aspects. Lovely work.
This is quite an unusual hoarding in the centre of Bristol for a couple of reasons. First, I’m not sure what it is protecting, it certainly doesn’t look like anything is being redeveloped. Second, it seems that graffiti writers from ASK are tolerated. Perhaps it is a curated wall, I don’t know.
Voyder, Nelson Street, Bristol, February 2019
The middle piece of this ASK collaboration is by the brilliant Voyder, and is one that incorporates his clever brush stroke effect. He really is the master of playing with his audience and introducing stunning ideas and effects. Quite an old piece, but I’ve not had my camera when walking past it before.
As long as Soker keeps turning out fabulous graffiti writing, I will keep photographing and sharing them. This one from a few weeks back was part of a wall shared with Dibz, which I have already posted. It is a beautiful chrome piece with blue and black shadows. Showy and subtle both at the same time.
Soker, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2019
It is interesting that when I post his pieces on Instagram, they generally get fewer likes than street art pieces, which leads me to conclude that graffiti writing is more of an acquired taste…that is except for his Upfest 2018 Simpsons piece, which was my all-time most popular Instagram post. I wish I knew how these things worked.
Something a bit different today. Where Stokes Croft and City Road meet, there are some poster frames on a wall, which I think have been installed by the People’s Republic of Stokes Croft (PRSC). The posters here could easily be mistaken for the random advertising we are subjected to on a daily basis and which we tend to ignore and filter out as white noise. But take a slightly closer look and you’ll see something quite different.
Unknown artist, Stokes Croft, Bristol, January 2019
I don’t know who the artist(s) is/are that put these posters together, but I thoroughly enjoy seeing them when I walk past. Often with some political undertone the wry humour shines through. The first is of a spoof Evening Standard (check the spelling) billboard, stating that ‘things can only get bitter’ a direct reference to the current Brexit crisis that continues to divide the country.
Unknown artist, Stokes Croft, Bristol, January 2019
The next poster shows a portrait of David Cameron with paper peeling off where his face is to reveal large corporate office blocks (banks?) behind – surely they are not suggesting the ex PM was driven by capitalist ideology..?
Unknown artist, Stokes Croft, Bristol, January 2019
The third poster is a commentary on the ‘social media brain drain’ with a character, loosely based on Mickey Mouse encouraging people to look up from their phones. I wonder how many people look up and read this poster…not many I would guess.
All of these posters are provocative and humorous and I’ll keep looking out for more. Perhaps I’ll get lucky and find out who is behind them too.
Fingers emerging out of clouds set on a blue background with pink spots. Unmistakably a piece by Object… but what is different about this is the gentleness of it and the pink spots are something I’ve not seen him use before.
Object…, The Bearpit, Bristol, January 2019
I love the passion and often rage in Object…’s pieces but every once in a while it is great to see something that is perhaps more subtle. I’m not too sure what the story is here, or why one of the fingers appears to be pushing the crown down, but there is a story. Also I rather like the broken nail by way of observation. This bit of wall is a devil to photograph, but thankfully I was there on an overcast day and so the shadows were not too much of a problem. Nice piece.
Another artist who seems to have upped his game over the last six months or so is Soap. I’m sure that I struggled to find any of his work for an age but now, I am pleased to say, I stumble across new pieces nearly every time I venture out.
Soap, M32 roundabout, Bristol, January 2019
This is a bad picture (the light was unkind) of a lovely piece by the artist, and one that extends his ‘standard’ motif into something a little more animated and fun. The addition of eyes creates a new sense of mischief and character. Great colours and really nicely worked patterns – this is a corker from Soap.
Sled One has absolutely smashed it with this extraordinarily brilliant piece of graffiti writing on the new hoardings at the bottom end of Lower Ashley Road. Sadly, the developers have already placed batten squares all over the hoardings in preparation for advertising posters (I guess). How sad that our world is dominated by consumerism and money. These boards were a creative outlet for Bristol street artists to share their art with fellow citizens. Instead, drivers will have to endure seedy adverts desperately thrusting lifestyle aspirations at us in an attempt to sell their grubby products to swell their shareholders wallets. Capitalism is driving everything towards the lowest common denominator of money. No wonder the world is in a mess.
Sled One, Lower Ashley Road, Bristol, January 2019
Back to the art and the joy it can bring to our hearts. Sled One is one of the artists I rate most highly in Bristol and this piece (which spells out SLED) is a fine example of his work. He had to paint this in two sessions as he was ‘moved on’ I think when he was sketching it out. Thank goodness he had the perseverance to come back and finish it off. I hope the artists find a way of keeping these hoardings alive, but I fear it could be difficult.
Yet more fantastic abstract work from Mr Klue in the shape of this large wispy piece on the St Werburghs side of the M32 roundabout. There is no other artist I know of producing anything like this, Mr Klue’s style is utterly unique.
Mr Klue, M32 roundabout, Bristol, January 2019
Mr Klue recently posted a couple of pieces (I think it was a studio work) on Instagram which feature a lamppost set in a landscape of swirls – truly awesome work and worth a look. I will never tire of his work, and am glad that he has rediscovered his mojo and is out there being creative and brilliant.
Oner has been very, very busy lately and this was a quick one he sprayed a week or so ago on the M32 roundabout. I actually caught up with him just as he was finishing off and he made time for a good chat, although I know that many graffiti writers like to just get on with their work uninterrupted.
Oner, M32 roundabout, Bristol, January 2019
We talked a little about how he likes to work alone, which I can see is a real benefit if you want to have flexibility and spontineity. This is a nice piece with good colour selection and great letters. I love the drips on the ‘e’ and the bleed onto the pavement. Many more to come from this prolific writer.
A new week, and to celebrate I am introducing you to an artist to the pages of Natural Adventures, Atchue. Although I have seen some of his pieces before, I have not known who the artist was until recently. The good news is that I have some of his work in my archives and I can dig it out when I do some of my ‘housekeeping’.
Atchue, St Werburghs, Bristol, January 2019
His work tends to be big, pink and bold and cartoon in style. This face reminds me of the artwork you used to see in comics like the Beano, Beezer and Dandy. The little quote on the side seems to reflect the thoughts of this marginally grotesque character…”Boobs covered in Angel Delight, yum yum”.
There is something endearing about this gurning character, and certainly it is eye-catching. Nice one to start off with.
Natural adventures 