I cannot tell you (except I am) how much I am enjoying these kawaii pieces by Maesyhook that have been appearing all over the city over the last few months. The style and characters are quite unlike anything else we see in Bristol, and her work is a breath of fresh air.
Maesyhook, River Avon, Bristol, June 2021
This piece is on the cycle path which runs alongside the River Avon opposite the paintworks. The cheeky little fox character has a little speech bubble with a kawaii poo emoji, which in itself is all rather cute. Cute is the kawaii way, although with Maesyhook it has some edge through painting her work on walls, rather than on computer screens. I love this piece and her work.
Sometimes I am a goofy idiot, I don’t think properly in the excitement of the moment, and only upon reflection do I notice my stupidity. I took these pictures thinking that it was a collaboration between Maesyhook and Slakarts, when it was in fact a collaboration but between Stivs (to the left, off picture) and Maesyhook. No matter. This not a collaboration, but rather two pieces that are adjacent to one another.
Maesyhook, St Werburghs Tunnel, Bristol, June 2021
On the left (and associated with a Stivs piece further left) is another delightful piece from newcomer to Bristol walls Maesyhook. Her kawaii pieces are becoming a familiar site in the popular spots around the city, and here she has painted a rather cute sheep wearing a T-shirt with ‘I ❤️ Bru’ on the front. I’m not sure what or who Bru is, but it looks nice.
Slakarts, St Werburghs Tunnel, Bristol, June 2021
To the right of the sheep in this non-collaboration is a mega tag piece from Slakarts who seems to be playing with very feint blue outlines at the moment. Is he out of black? Or is this a new thing? I can’t say I like it too much, as it doesn’t provide enough definition and looks a bit washed out. Get back to the stronger colours is my advice. It is still always nice to see his work though.
What a wonderful and fresh collaboration this is from Stivs and an artist new to me (at the time of taking this picture) Maesyhook. The wall is often difficult to photograph, but I am pleased with these pictures – not too much glare.
Maesyhook, Brunel Way, Bristol, May 2021
On the left is a sugar-sweet cat/unicorn sitting on a cloud looking very cute, painted in the Japanese Kawaii style, something you don’t see too often in Bristol… until now. I am guessing that Maesyhook has only recently moved to Bristol, although she is originally from Granada, and is another addition to the growing community of Spanish street artists in Bristol. The writing at the bottom originally said Love Rave – Love 21 June 2021 – a reference to an all-day rave at the Lakota on Monday next week. Watch this space for more of her recent work.
Stivs, Brunel Way, Bristol, May 2021
To the right is yet another outstanding piece of calligraphy graffiti (calligraffiti) writing from Stivs who is in a very rich vein of form at the moment. I think it spells FUTURE (correction… KARP), although I might be wrong, however, this is an outstanding piece of art. The blue letters are perfectly accompanied by the red, pink, yellow and purple edges, lifting them out from the wall and the whole thing is bordered with a very clean triple line. Remarkable. and then as if that were not enough, Stivs has worked in a ton of fabulous drips. One of the very best of its type. Bravo!
Natural adventures 