Tag: Nature

1815. Upfest 2018 (75)

Another South American artist at Upfest 2018, this time a Peruvian who is based in Barcelona, Bronik. The hat is the clue to the origin of the artist, but as I mentioned in the Dinho Bento piece two posts ago, there is something about the continent of South America that seems to have its own style.

Bronik, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
Bronik, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018

In this lovely piece, we see again a story of connection between people and nature. This appears to be an inescapable component of our lives and yet one that we seem to be  ambivalent towards if it gets in the way of our lifestyles. Only today (I wrote this two days ago) the WWF announced that since 1970 we have lost 60% of vertebrate species. Shameful. That is in my lifetime. Art like this may be all we have to remember our beautiful planet by.

Bronik, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
Bronik, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018

This piece sings to me. It gives me what I need to redouble my efforts to make a real difference in this world and to act at whatever levels I can to slow the rate of biodiversity loss. A while back I wrote a haiku about our self-destruction. It was called Ants and is as follows:

 

When we are long gone

you shall inherit the earth

take good care of it.

 

I hope it is not prophetic.

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1813. Upfest 2018 (73)

Yet another new wall for 2018, and how well it has been utilised by Dinho Bento. I guess this wall could have been split into two or three slots, but what a great decision to keep its integrity.

Dinho Bento, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
Dinho Bento, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018

Dinho Bento is a Brazilian artist whose work seems to draw inspiration from the natural world. A quick glance at his Facebook feed tells you that he is interested in portraying the interconnectedness of humanity with our environment, and the organic green strands in this piece are a representation of that connection – or at least, that is my interpretation.

Dinho Bento, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
Dinho Bento, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018

I can’t necessarily put my finger on it, but artists from different countries definitely have national styles, or perhaps continental styles, and this piece really screams out South America. I guess the more art you see, the more you recognise this phenomenon, and while it is not true of all artists, it is a real thing.

Dinho Bento, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
Dinho Bento, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018

The natural world themes and story of this piece really chime for me. It is called ‘Listen to Nature’ – something I have done all my life. Great work Dinho Bento.

1808. St Werburghs tunnel (48)

Well this was a nice surprise. You don’t get to see much of this kind of street art in Bristol, so it is great when visiting artists come and switch it up a bit.

As an aside, the expression ‘switch it up’ is new to me…in all my life I had never heard it until my fourteen year old daughter said it a few weeks ago and I told her it wasn’t a phrase. She just laughed at me. I had to go and look it up. Of course since then I have heard it quite a lot, and now am using it for the first time ever in writing. You saw it here first folks.

Spray Saint, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2018
Spray Saint, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2018

Jordan Lauder, A.K.A. Spray Saint is from Hemel Hempstead and has an awesome story to tell. I am not a follower of any faith, but I do believe in goodness and people having the chance to turn their lives around, and for Spray Saint finding God has helped him to find some peace. I really recommend that you take a look at a video he made about his journey.

His leopard piece in St Werburghs tunnel is beautifully worked in blue tones and has a real sense of movement about it. As I said at the start, we just don’t get to see much work like this in Bristol and I really hope he comes to visit again, and wish him well on his continuing journey.

1710. Upfest 2018 (35)

Max ‘syther’ Oughton is no stranger to Upfest, and indeed I wrote a short post covering his work from Upfest 2017. This artist, from East Anglia, is making a niche for himself with animal studies and illustration, so the Upfest programme notes tell us and this piece certainly covers that territory with a seabird entangled in the tentacles of an octopus.

Max Syther, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
Max Syther, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018

The colour selections which are calming and serene betray the rather brutal scene which is a skilfully executed juxtaposition. Max Oughton has a great eye for the natural world, and it is great to be able to see his work for two years running.

Max Syther, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
Max Syther, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018

 

I think that Max was just tidying up after finishing the piece when I took this last picture…a celebratory fag hanging out of his mouth.

Butterflies

 

In a year of whites

a spot of late summer sun

brings out the colours.

 

by Scooj

 

On observing that it has been a terrible year for butterflies in the UK except for the white species which appear to have thrived in the dry conditions. This afternoon however I have spotted a couple of colourful butterflies, a speckled wood and one other.