Haka – Natural adventures

5148. Stokes Croft

I was walking home from town a week or two back, after a leaving do for a very dear friend and colleague who I have known for about 30 years. I took the opportunity to take a couple of snaps of this wonderful piece by Haka, which I have known about for a while, but just haven’t been able to photograph. For nighttime photographs, I think they have come out pretty well – it is amazing how good mobile phone cameras are these days (sounding like the old man I am).

The message is a great observation and commentary on the current cost of living crisis, with inflation at over 10% and pay offers typically under 5%, meaning a cut in salaries for most people (a situation I have been living with for more than 10 years, being about 20% worse off in real terms than I was before Tory austerity measures). This Government think it is fine to cut thee taxes of the richest, but restrain pay for everyone else. The sooner they go, the better.

I’m familiar with the character Haka has painted – a right old meanie – but I can’t quite place what cartoon series/book he is from. Fabulous to see a political piece from Haka.

5134. The Paintworks (4)

Haka, The Paintworks, Bristol, March 2023

Catching a glimpse of this piece across a building site took me straight back to my childhood and my favourite children’s picture books authored and illustrated by Richard Scarry. Particular favourite books were ‘Busy Busy World’ and ‘What do People do all Day’, the latter even made an appearance in a TV commercial with me and my sister, but that is a whole other story.

I have no idea when Haka painted this wonderful piece of Lowly Worm driving in his apple car, and I have probably only just noticed it because of the building site possibly exposing the wall. Haka certainly has a knack of escalating levels of nostalgia with his picture book character series of pieces, but this one absolutely is my favourite so far. I now feel like I need to find a copy of one of Richard Scarry’s books, just for old times’ sake. Perfection.

5114. River Avon (41)

I recently took a Japanese friend of mine for a second guided tour of some of Bristol’s spots, and we brought the dog with us this time. The tour started at Sparke Evans Park, then along the river to Temple Meads Station before returning on the south side of the river via the Paintworks. A decent walk, taking in some great street and graffiti art.

Although I have known about this Haka piece for a while, I simply haven’t walked past it since it was painted, probably because it is just a little bit far for my normal lunchtime rambles. It is a stunning Gruffalo piece, continuing his theme of children’s picture book characters, in particular those authored by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler. This one is a real beauty. Haka really is on the crest of an inspiration wave at the moment, and long may it last.

5064. M32 Spot (156)

How absolutely brilliant is this? I used to read the Snail and Whale to my kids when they were little, along with several other Julia Donaldson classics. Having a close association with the sea for much of my childhood and my working life, I particularly enjoyed reading this picture book to them.

Haka has absolutely nailed the style of the illustrator, Axel Scheffler, in several pieces around the city, but this somehow feels even more authentic than some of the others. I am absolutely loving this ‘period’ in Haka’s street art journey, and expect it to continue for a few years yet. Bravo!

5004. M32 roundabout J3 (448)

Haka, M32 roundbout, Bristol, January 2023

The first time I photographed this lovely Pooh Bear piece by Haka was a complete fail. There were shadows cast halfway across the piece, and half was overexposed and the other half underexposed. I returned on a duller day, and these pictures are altogether a bit on the dull side and don’t really do the piece justice.

Haka has been taking us on a nostalgic journey in recent months, to our own or our children’s favourite picture book characters, and Winnie the Pooh must surely be one of the most iconic. Haka has lovingly portrayed Pooh nestled inside the letters CK and NE, a tribute to CKone, or Dan Fenlon who died in a motorcycle accident in 2011. Amazingly, Haka remembers him in every piece he paints. A good friend indeed.

4985. M32 roundabout J3 (447)

Haka, M32 roundabout, Bristol, January 2023

I think that Haka might have been let off childcare duties recently, because he has been prolific with his stunning recreations of children’s picture book characters, and this magnificent piece on the M32 roundabout is a perfect example. I genuinely don’t know where he gets the energy from to paint so much, but am glad that he does.

This piece features a worm, Superworm, from the book by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler. Superworm, faithfully recreated, is wriggling his way through some beautiful chrome letters spelling out HAKA. A great way to start the year.

4981. St George skate park (19)

He’s only gone and done it again, Haka has smashed it on one of his favourite walls, at the far end of the St George skate park. Another wonderful recreation of a children’s picture book, faithfully recreated with a little bit of a Haka twist.

The book is called Peace at last, by Jill Murphy, and was a particular favourite of my daughter when she was little. Haka has entitled his work “A Piece at Last”, playing with us. I love this series of children’s illustrations that Haka has been painting over the last year or so, and it demonstrates that the Bristol graffiti scene is a vibrant and diverse one. A lovely piece.

4895. St George skate park (18)

Haka is working his way through characters from the Ahlberg series of children’s picture books and in this wonderful piece on the back of a ramp in St George skate park he has created Grandma Swagg from the book Cops and Robbers, giving it a contemporary twist with the words ‘Cops and Tories’. Ha ha! It is also touching that Haka has paid a little tribute to Janet Ahlberg in the bottom left.

This is a beauty, on a wall that Haka rather likes, and suits this piece perfectly. I love the way Haka so lovingly and faithfully recreates these characters on a large scale for us all to enjoy. I’ll bet that this one is a real favourite with younger members of the local community.

4839.Brunel Way (181)

Haka and Cats and That, Brunel Way, Bristol, November 2022

I felt that this collaborative piece by Haka and Cats and That merited its own post rather than potentially being overshadowed by the adjacent Bob the Builder piece by Haka. In this collaboration, the bicycle is by Haka, and the cats, unsurprisingly, by Cats and That.

The collaboration is a charming and endearing scene with a couple of cats lounging on the bicycle. The cats are simply painted, without bells and whistles, but this subtle approach is really effective, and anyway who doesn’t love cat street art? Cats and That has burst onto the Bristol scene in recent months and is already making a mark all over town. The column cats next to this wall are an example of this.

Cats and That, Brunel Way, Bristol, November 2022

Finally, I would just like to say that writing this blog is a genuine pleasure. Sometimes it can be a bit of a slog, especially when the trials of work and home life catch up with me. At times it might seem a little esoteric, but I stick by the guiding principle that I started writing street art posts to help others understand, appreciate and love the street/graffiti art scene in Bristol.

This comment from a visitor, Artemis BJJ, to Natural Adventures was left on my ‘About’ section, and it absolutely made my day and reinforced my resolve to continue doing what I do, because even if it makes one person happy, I have done my job.

“What an awesome blog! Randomly bumped across it while googling “j3 roundabout bristol”. A considerably more engaging and aesthetically interesting result than I was expecting. Keep up the great work! 😁🖖”

4829. Greenbank (60)

Unless he is reading The Bible to his kids, this Jesus piece by Haka is a bit of a departure from his recent passion for painting characters from children’s story books. Representations of Jesus in street art are relatively rare, but this South Park Jesus breaks the mould.

Haka’s writing in this piece is really neat and tidy, with a bright colour combination that dazzles. Overall, a real pleasure to see this one, and to enjoy Hakas’ continuing purple patch.

	Matt on Jay
	scooj on Jay
	Curious Cappuccino on Jay
	scooj on Jay
	Curious Cappuccino on 5278. Weston-super-Mare

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