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
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.
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
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.
Well I think I hit door gold last week when taking a trip to London. My sister, who lives in Stoke Newington, and I had decided to spend the day together to remember our father on the first anniversary of his death.
My sister suggested we take a walk in the Brick Lane area – I think she thought I’d enjoy showing her the street art in the area, and indeed she was right. Some of the pieces we saw are posted elsewhere on Natural Adventures.
Heading back to a bust stop near Spitalfields Market, we turned right off Brick Lane and into Fournier Street. My jaw nearly hit the floor. I explained the whole ‘Thursday Doors’ to my long-suffering sister and proceeded to snap away. Fournier street is one of those amazing East End streets that has pretty much kept its character, and rather than being knocked down in some kind of ill-thought-out gentrification project it has survived and thrived in private ownership by people who took a punt back in the 1950s/60s that these houses were worth looking after. Gilbert and George are an example of that, and if you Google them in Fournier Street, you can see articles about their house (Number 8 I think).
Enough guff… here is the first installment of Fournier Street doors:
Double double door, Brick Lane Muslim Funeral Services, Fournier Street, London April 2019Blue door and fine portico, Fournier Street, London, April 2019Nice doors and great Victorian tiles, Fournier Street, London, April 2019Door and swanky portico with lamp, Fournier Street, London, April 2019Door, slightly wonky, Fournier Street, London, April 2019Door, eight panels and beautiful surround, Fournier Street, London, April 2019Door, is this one wonky too? Fournier Street, London, April 2019Door with splendid portico, Fournier Street, London, April 2019
More Fournier door delight to come in Part 2 soon.
For more doors and indeed the inspiration behind Thursday Doors go and take a look at Norm 2.0 blog where there are links to yet more doors.
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
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
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
I do like Sweet Toof’s work very much indeed, always blending mortality with humour in his incredibly distinctive style. Great find.
I think that this piece by AKA Jimmy C is another one that falls into the category of ‘recently done, just in time for my visit to Shoreditch’. It is a touching painting of a man carrying a child with fatherly affection and care. As with all AKA Jimmy C pieces it is painted using tiny spots of paint to make up the whole – pointillism graffiti.
AKA Jimmy C, Shoreditch, London, November 2018
I had walked past this charming piece and it was only when I turned back, checking for traffic, that I saw it. It goes to show that in this game you really do need to keep your wits about you. This is a sensational piece and simply adds to the enormous spectrum of street art.
I have only seen Ant Carver’s work at Upfest, so it was with some excitement that I found this wheatpaste piece by him during my extensive stroll around Shoreditch. His style is instantly recognisable and all the better for having witnessed the way he builds his work up at Upfest 2018.
Ant Carver, Shoreditch, London, November 2018
This was not the only wheatpaste by Mr Carver that I found on this particular walk and It will give me great pleasure to share the other one with you soon. It comes as no surprise that it is the eyes that captivate the audience in his pieces, and it must have something to do with the way he builds his pictures up. Great work.
This wonderful mash-up piece by Ewan Blackford is right up my street, metaphorically speaking at least. To me it has components of the Sky High approach to mixing it up a bit, and some of the crazy character stuff of artists like 3Dom or Si2 (Hull Graffiti).
Ewan Blackford, Shoreditch, London, November 2018
It is a nicely composed wall and certainly eye-catching. Together with the location of the wall itself, this piece was unmissable. I have not heard of the artist before, but that is true of so many of the London-based artists…let me conquer Bristol first.
Natural adventures 