Tag: Graffiti

367. Tropicana, Weston-super-Mare (1)

On my recent day-trip to Weston-super-Mare, I felt compelled to visit the Tropicana, site of Banksy’s very successful Dismaland. I never made it to the exhibition, which I deeply regret, but read a great many posts and blogs about it and felt quite well acquainted with many of the exhibits. The site now plays host to a temporary fairground, with open entry, so I decided to take a look around. Ironically it all felt rather more dismal than it might have been during the exhibition.

My Dog Sighs, Tropicana, Weston-super-Mare, August 2016
My Dog Sighs, Tropicana, Weston-super-Mare, August 2016

Going in through the entrance lobby, there are several stencils by JPS, Fawn and Pzy, which I will get round to posting soon. Once into the main area, there were several larger murals on the left hand side walls. Unfortunately these were rather obscured by heavy fairground wagons and equipment. Undeterred, I found a way round the back and snapped away. This is a beautiful piece by the excellent My Dog Sighs, and so utterly unmistakable.

My Dog Sighs, Tropicana, Weston-super-Mare, August 2016
My Dog Sighs, Tropicana, Weston-super-Mare, August 2016

The photographs were tricky to take, because I couldn’t get any real distance from the piece. It didn’t matter though. This was another great extra surprise, because I didn’t know there was going to be anything here at all. It all comes down to wandering around, being curious and looking. I got my rewards.

366. Richmond Street, Weston-super-Mare

Recently my daughter suggested we had a day at the seaside. In Bristol, the seaside generally means Weston-super-Mare, or Weston on the mud. A Victorian seaside town that was very much alive when we visited. It is also the home of one of the great stencil artists in the country, and one of the first artists that inspired me to write about street art in the first place, JPS.

JPS, Richmond Street, Weston-super-Mare, August 2016
JPS, Richmond Street, Weston-super-Mare, August 2016

This is a piece that I have seen numerous times on digital media, but to see it for real was a treat. It is funny and beautifully executed. Furthermore, what none of the pictures reveal is that it is outside the Bear Grills restaurant, adding to the joke.

JPS, Richmond Street, Weston-super-Mare, August 2016
JPS, Richmond Street, Weston-super-Mare, August 2016

This is the first of many of JPS pieces I will write about from the W-s-M ‘gallery’, as they can be found all over the place, and I am sure I missed tons, so a further visit is in the planning.

365. Upper York Street (3)

More great art from one of the very best local Bristol street artists. (This is a difficult judgement to make, because there are so many of them that are just incredible). Sled One has created a wild and wonderful mural with curious giraffe-like creatures as its centrepiece.

Sled One, Upper York Street, Bristol, August 2016
Sled One, Upper York Street, Bristol, August 2016

I would say that the colours and overall style are certainly in the 3Dom school of street art, and far removed from the extraordinarily brilliant wildstyle burners that are Sled One’s trademark. I love Sled One’s work, and I would guess that he freestyled this, as he generally seems to freestyle everything.

Sled One, Upper York Street, Bristol, August 2016
Sled One, Upper York Street, Bristol, August 2016

I am always in awe of his work. The details and stories are great. In this picture the giraffe on the right appears to be peeing on the tent of the giraffe on the left – not sure what the background to this might be, but there is definitely a story there somewhere.

364. Moon Street (15)

Another pause from Upfest 2016.

With my weekly trips to London, and tons of pictures from Upfest, it is all too easy to neglect my first love…Bristol street art, here every day on the streets, right in front of my eyes. I took a bunch of photographs on my way to work a few days ago, and here is one of the highlights.

3Dom, Moon Street, Bristol, August 2016
3Dom, Moon Street, Bristol, August 2016

This wall has been home to a piece by Laic217 for quite a while but has been replaced by this magnificent 3Dom work. Skulls seem to hold a fascination for street artists…(note to self – special skulls post)…this skull though is one happy, peaceful soul.

3Dom, Moon Street, Bristol, August 2016
3Dom, Moon Street, Bristol, August 2016

I think this piece is quite new. It is always exciting for someone like me to find the new stuff and see it for the first time. Yet another winner from 3Dom.

363. Upfest 2016 (20)

Towards the end of North Street (the West end) there are a lovely pair of garage doors that constitute a desirable spot for local street artists. At Upfest 2016 the honour was given to Rocket01 to work his magic.

Rocket01, North Street, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Rocket01, North Street, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

When I got to his pitch, he was rather concerned about the inconsiderate car drivers who were impatiently tooting street enthusiasts as they photographed his work. An irritation shared by many who were trying to admire his work on this tight corner. I chatted with him for a short while and told him I would write about his work in my blog…so here it is.

Rocket01, North Street, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Rocket01, North Street, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

This is a striking piece by Rocket01 who originally comers from Sheffield and tours the country as a street artist. This was the first time I have seen his work, and I was really impressed. I like this kind of thing.

Rocket01, North Street, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Rocket01, North Street, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

In his bio from the Upfest programme, he talks of his work with the following quote:

“I have visions of a post-apocalyptic world where mankind has finally embraced nature and immersed himself within it. He swims with the fishes, he flies with the birds, chlorophyll runs through his veins and his eyes photosyntesize.”

I rather like this, but that is no surprise coming from a ‘nature boy’.

Rocket01, North Street, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Rocket01, North Street, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

There is detail in this work that hints at sustainable energy, peace, nature…visions of hope. Another great Upfest piece.

Rocket01, North Street, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Rocket01, North Street, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

362. Upfest 2016 (19)

It was not my intention to post two Upfest entries by the same artist so close together, but I am approaching all of this in a rather random way. So here we have the second wonderful offering from Caro Pepe in a rather short space of time.

Caro Pepe, North Street, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Caro Pepe, North Street, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

This incredible work carries the overall theme of Mr. Men/Little Miss and presents us with Little Miss Sunshine. Once again, we see the single eye and flowing hair, but in this instance in a styalised form to fit the theme. It is funny, but this piece, more than many other Upfest works, just blends in so perfectly into the North Street ‘thing’ and feels like it has been here forever.

Caro Pepe, North Street, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Caro Pepe, North Street, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

I do hope we can encourage Caro Pepe to visit us in Bristol again from her native Argentina.

361. Upfest 2016 (18)

Lemak had said that he was planning something spectacular for Upfest this year and with this piece ‘love’ he surely didn’t disappoint. I have been hugely impressed with Bristol-based Lemak’s stencil work that I have seen, in particular his tribute to DJ Derek and his tattooed girl.

Lemak, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Lemak, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

This piece is an absolute masterclass in stencil work, and I think my favourite piece of Upfest 2016. In addition to the great composition and technical work, Lemak has introduced some innovation to the piece.

Lemak, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Lemak, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

The heart stands proud of the rest of the picture, giving it a 3D aspect. His use of chemical formulae also brings an interesting dimension to the work, but most of all it is telling a story, and the best works usually have a story to tell. I don’t think I can express how good I think this is.

Lemak, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Lemak, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

I returned to this piece several times over the three days, but wasn’t lucky enough to catch up with Lemack…perhaps next time. Utterly brilliant.

360. Upfest 2016 (17)

Fake is a brilliant self-taught Dutch stencil artist from Amsterdam whose work at this year’s Upfest is one of the outstanding pieces. Who can forget the image of a comic character (is it Skeletor? I’m not much cop at this kind of thing) riding a banana?

Fake, Greville Road, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Fake, Greville Road, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

The clean lines and framing of the piece on a white wall is what really makes this something different and special. Once again Upfest brings in talent like this for Bristolians to enjoy and appreciate for at least a year, and makes us all hungry for more.

Fake, Greville Road, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Fake, Greville Road, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

I was very struck by this piece by Fake, and it is in my ‘top ten’ (figurative, not literal, because that would be impossible) from the festival. His website is well worth a gander too.

359. Upfest 2016 (16)

Only a few yards away from the wonderful Hannah Adamaszek piece is this striking work by one of my old favourites ATM. His works of wildlife can be found all over Bristol, and now in the very special playground of Ashton Gate school. It looks like I might only have missed him by slim moment as his step ladder is still next to the wall, but I think the work was completed.

ATM, Ashton Gate School, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
ATM, Ashton Gate School, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

As a naturalist, I really ought to know what bird this is, but I am not sure. Scratch that…I have just checked out his Instagram account and it is a wood warbler. His bird works are really exceptional and I wonder if he has been approached by the Audubon Mural Project, if not, he should be. A superb work, and an outstanding artist at this year’s festival.

358. Hoxton Square, Shoreditch, London (1)

My wanderings in Shoreditch turned up so many wonderful pieces of street art, but this duo of Mr Cenz and Fanakapan really has to be the pick of the bunch. I am really familiar with both artists, thanks in part to the excellent London Calling blog.

Mr Cenz, Hoxton Square, London, August 2016
Mr Cenz, Hoxton Square, London, August 2016

For a while, I have longed to see some work, first-hand by both of these artists, so this was a real treat for me on a wet monday evening. Mr Cenz is a London street artist who started his graffiti in 1988 and is now a professional graffiti artist with his own company Positive Arts.

Mr Cenz, Hoxton Square, London, August 2016
Mr Cenz, Hoxton Square, London, August 2016

This reasonably recent piece is a freestyle creation of a female portrait distorted with shapes and colour, typical of his current work. Exceptional work and so very pleasing to the eye.

Fanakapan, Hoxton Square, London, August 2016
Fanakapan, Hoxton Square, London, August 2016

Fanakapan is a genius in my view. He creates the most incredible images of shiny surfaces which recently has featured helium balloons of lettering, animals and other shapes. The way he captures these subjects is quite extraordinary and his technique is quite exceptional.

Fanakapan, Hoxton Square, London, August 2016
Fanakapan, Hoxton Square, London, August 2016

In this piece he has even managed to incorporate two wooden features on the wall into his art. I am a huge fan of both these artists, and wish they would do more work in Bristol outside of Upfest. I’ll keep my fingers crossed. I was a very happy man after finding these works on the side of 333 Mother, a pub on the end of Hoxton Square.