Tag: Paste up

2688. North Street

This is an extraordinary paste up that I really ought to have posted some time ago, but it slipped through the net until I had a little look back through old files. It is by the Bristol-based artist Gvnly and presents his surreal style with real confidence.

Gvnly, North Street, Bristol, December 2018
Gvnly, North Street, Bristol, December 2018

At first I mistook this for a regular poster and with peripheral vision it looked like a kind of generic ‘circus coming to town’ poster. But as always with these things taking a moment to stop and look has its rewards. There is a lot going on in this colourful piece and there is quite a dreamy type of theme going on. I’m not sure what media were used in the painting, nor do I quite understand how it was turned into a poster (I’m not very good at understanding that kind of stuff). The wheatpaste stayed up for quite a long time before finally seccumbing to the elements. Something a little different from the norm in Bristol, and all the better for it.

 

 

2659. Hebron Road (3)

A gorgeous paste up by Jimmer Willmott which appeared during a Bedminster session with Kid Crayon back in October this year. I think that this was my favourite from Jimmer – it is a nicely drawn surreal piece with his signature eye and is capped off nicely with a feather.

Jimmer Willmott, Hebron Road, Bristol, October 2019
Jimmer Willmott, Hebron Road, Bristol, October 2019

Having complained in the past about the lack of wheatpastes in Bristol, there does seem to have been a small resurgence in the art lately and of course this makes me very happy. I’m hoping that 2020 will see an increasing trend in Bristol wheatpasting.

2656. Hepburn Road (11)

In a part of Hepburn Road that I rarely visit, I was dropping my son off, I caught a glimpse of this qWeRT paste up. Of course I had to park up, and walk back to take a better look. I think, judging from the good condition of the piece, that it must have been left here during qWeRT’s recent trip to Bristol.

qWeRT, Hepburn Road, Bristol, November 2019
qWeRT, Hepburn Road, Bristol, November 2019

I believe that our friendly googly-eyed character greets us in the guise of Vishnu, the Hindu god and preserver of life. The wheatpaste is rather well camouflaged, set on a colourful background of random tags and swirls and is at first quite difficult to see. More to come from qWeRT and more to find I hope.

2632. Stokes Croft

I have said before that there aren’t many paste ups in Bristol, however I seem to have found quite a few in recent weeks. This wonderful wheatpaste by qWeRT is one of several pasted up during a visit by the artist recently.

qWeRT, Stokes Croft, Bristol, December 2019
qWeRT, Stokes Croft, Bristol, December 2019

Tucked away behind a bus stop in Stokes Croft is this rather endearing googly eyed character. I would be prepared to bet that very few people waiting at the bus stop have even noticed this new addition to the colourful tagged wall behind them. I don’t actually know too much about qWeRT or where he/she comes from, but I have seen a lot of these characters in London, so I am guessing that might be qWeRT’s home. Still a few more to post from this recent Bristol binge.

 

 

2631. Dove Street

Finding this wheatpaste by Kid Crayon was like finding an old friend. I was on a slight detour from my usual route to work, and just caught a glimpse of it in my peripheral vision. How could I have never found this until now.

Kid Crayon, Dove Street, Bristol, December 2019
Kid Crayon, Dove Street, Bristol, December 2019

I think that this was probably pasted up around five years ago when Kid Crayon was doing a lot of this kind of work. Considering it’s age, it has survived remarkably well and I guess the fact that it is in a little recess in the wall has protected it a little from the elements. The find of the month, and it made me really happy.

2629. The Bearpit (185)

It is only a few months ago that The Bearpit was a street art hub, and very much a ‘go to’ destination for street art tours and hunting in Bristol. But then the Council stepped in, painted all the walls with anti-graffiti paint, cleared out all the containers and a double decker bus that had been a cafe, but once closed became a squat.

It was as if the graffiti and street art was symbolic of the squallor and so it had to go. In my view it was the chronic homelessness problem in Bristol that was responsible for the decline in amenity value and increase in anti-social behaviour, but the Council know best and have created a sterile space.

Nothing happens there any more. No more artists, no more skateboarders, no more gardeners – it is a joyless place. I wonder where they have shifted the homeless people to. I know a bunch of them live in the underground car park near my work.

Tian, The Bearpit, Bristol, May 2019
Tian, The Bearpit, Bristol, May 2019

One of the last pieces I photographed there was this wonderful wheatpaste by French artist Tian, which was one of a series of wheatpastes he left us in and around the Stokes Croft area last spring. I guess on his next trip to Bristol he’ll have to give The Bearpit a wide berth.

2615. Upper York Street (18)

I love it when visiting wheatpasters come to town because during their short stay they tend to paste up several pieces, often in locations slightly off the beaten track. This is a magnificent one from qWeRT continuing the theme of love, with our little googly-eyed character standing at a podium and pointing at a chart. Look a little closer and the chart tells us that there is a growth of love on the streets. A wonderful sentiment, but optimistic at best I would say.

qWeRT, Upper York Street, Bristol, November 2019
qWeRT, Upper York Street, Bristol, November 2019

I often wonder if people who are not interested in street art ever look at things like this, even if only out of curiosity, or whether they simply walk on by without so much as a glimpse. Surely people must wonder what this thing is or why is this here or something, but perhaps not. The next obvious thought is why do wheatpasters do this, as surely they will rarely see the enjoyment/confusion their little contributions make.

Knowing that qWeRT was in the area, I have been looking out for little googly-eye and found five from this session, but there are sure to be more out there. Love this one a lot.

2605. Ashley Road (20)

Guess who has been back in town… yes it’s qWeRT and this is the first of a few new wheatpastes I have found dotted about the place. I actually took this picture from the car window (I was in a traffic queue for lights) because I am inherently lazy and also because I was sitting right next to it and the opportunity was too good to miss.

qWeRT, Ashley Road, Bristol, November 2019
qWeRT, Ashley Road, Bristol, November 2019

I am really liking qWeRT’s theme at the moment which is centered around love, something we could all do with a little more of these days. I travel along this road often enough to guess that qWeRT’s visit to Bristol was within the last fortnight or so. I’m keeping my eyes peeled for more of this googly eyed sprite… watch this space.

2591. Upfest 2018 (162)

More from Upfest 2018 with this fine trio of paste up balloons by D7606, each one with a face of Twiggy on them. D7606 pasted up 10 of these balloons (complete with string) to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Upfest.

D7606, Upfest, Bristol, July 2019
D7606, Upfest, Bristol, July 2019

I have a feeling that they are still intact after almost eighteen months, probably because they were secured high up and out of the reach. These three take my total posted up to six. Did I find them all? Actually I’m not sure, as I still have so many pictures in my Upfest folder yet to post. Keep watching this space. Always a pleasure to find D7606’s work.

2588. Queen Charlotte Street (3)

Only a matter of a few days ago I posted a fine piece by Kedals at the Cheltenham Paint Festival, then on rifling through some old folders in my archive, I came across these two fabulous wheatpastes in March this year. Kedals has such a unique style that comes through in his larger murals as well as his wheatpastes.

Kedals, Queen Charlotte Street, Bristol, March 2019
Kedals, Queen Charlotte Street, Bristol, March 2019

The first of this pair of striking posters features a portrait of a rather portly man sporting what looks like a straw or canvas hat and smoking a rather large cigar. The whole thing is decorated with bright colours and shapes and is st for the eyes.

Kedals, Queen Charlotte Street, Bristol, March 2019
Kedals, Queen Charlotte Street, Bristol, March 2019

The second of these portraits looks like it might be called ‘booze cruise’ although with a Kedals piece who knows what the title or sub-text is? There is a lady smoking (smoking seems to be a bit of a theme) puff, puff, looking up at a vintage car with the words ‘gear 4 gas’. Curious and compelling stuff. I’ll keep looking out for the work of this unusual Bristol artist.