Tag: Photograph

55. Gloucester Road, Co-operative

I had originally thought that this was an advertising piece, because it is so well proportioned and executed. Of course I was wrong, and have grown fond of the ‘So far so good’ mural by Akarat and Hoax.

Hoax and Akarat, Gloucester Road, Bristol, October 2015
Hoax and Akarat, Gloucester Road, Bristol, October 2015

Akarat is another Bristol street artist who has emerged from the hip hop and reggae scene. His works usually have some kind of social commentary to them. His favoured techniques would appear to be similar to those used by Nick Walker; stencils and sprays, freehand and rollers. He often collaborates with Hoax another Bristol artist who also enjoys making political statements. I’m not sure why, but Hoax’s signature has been painted over since this was completed.

7/10

52. Broad Street

During the ‘See no Evil’ event in Bristol in 2012, Conor Harrington dropped over from his native Ireland and painted this mural in his distinctive style. It is called ‘the Duel of Bristol’.

Conor Harrington, Broad Street, Bristol, October 2015
Conor Harrington, Broad Street, Bristol, October 2015

Harrington now lives in and has a studio in East London. Like so many before him, he started off as a graffiti artist, but is now a celebrated muralist gaining worldwide acclaim. There is more about him in this excellent Frankie Beane post.

Conor Harrington, Broad Street, Bristol, October 2015
Conor Harrington, Broad Street, Bristol, October 2015

This mural happens to be located in one of my favourite parts of Bristol, tucked away behind the church of St John the Baptist and through the old city gate – I love the way it is framed by an ancient/modern setting.

Conor Harrington, Broad Street, Bristol, October 2015
Conor Harrington, Broad Street, Bristol, October 2015

8/10

51. Frogmore Street (3)

Standing on the bridge at the bottom of Park Street looking North East, you are treated to the most wonderful stencil by Banksy.

Banksy, Frogmore Street, Bristol
Banksy, Frogmore Street, Bristol

‘Man hanging’ which probably goes by several different names was sprayed in 2006, and led to something of a watershed in a permissive stance from the Bristol City Council regarding what was then called graffiti. There is a lovely article written at the time from the BBC website. How things have come on in relatively few years.

Banksy, Frogmore Street, from Park Street, Bristol
Banksy, Frogmore Street, from Park Street, Bristol

I am fortunate enough to walk past this iconic Banksy twice a day at least, and I am never bored by it. In 2009 the work was attacked with blue paint, calling into question all sorts of difficult conversations about street art and graffiti and vandalism and ‘he had it coming to him for selling out’ etc etc. For me it is just a pity. It seems that with his art, if you are not there in the first day or two, it will get damaged or removed.

Banksy, man hanging
Banksy, man hanging

9.5/10

Piper

 

Penny whistle man

playing for a few coppers

and humanity

 

by Scooj

50. Culver Street

It is only right to mark my 50th street art post with my favourite stencil artist. JPS, an adopted son of Bristol is from nearby Weston-super-Mare, where several of his works adorn the holiday town streets.

JPS, Culver Street, Bristol, September 2015
JPS, Culver Street, Bristol, September 2015

This incredibly detailed stencil, ‘Spartacus’ is a tribute to the Welsh actor Andy Whitfield who played the star role in the Starz TV production of Spartacus. He died in 2011 aged 39 of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

JPS, Culver Street, Bristol, September 2015
JPS, Culver Street, Bristol, September 2015

I was lucky enough to photograph this work a day or two after it was completed on 13 April 2015. It is the detail of the clothing and belt that I think marks out JPS as an incredible talent.

JPS, Culver Street, Bristol, September 2015
JPS, Culver Street, Bristol, September 2015

The ‘Spartacus’, on the wall of the Queen Shilling night club, is only yards away from another JPS I posted on 8 July 2015.

9/10

Wasp nest

 

In loft apartments,

a gift from former tenants;

perfect hexagons

 

by Scooj

44. Stokes Croft, corner wall (1)

Heading North on Cheltenham Road from the centre, you will see arguably the most striking and iconic mural that Bristol has to offer.

Stinkfish, Stokes Croft, Bristol, September 2015
Stinkfish, Stokes Croft, Bristol, September 2015

This beautiful portrait is by the Colombian artist Stinkfish, and is at the hub of so much other brilliant street art in the area. It is funny how we become accustomed to just seeing things but not noticing them. Today I stopped and took a really good look at this and it is absolutely outstanding.

Stinkfish, Stokes Croft, Bristol, September 2015
Stinkfish, Stokes Croft, Bristol, September 2015

There is a bit more background to this mural, which was painted in June 2012, here.

9/10

36. York Street

The side of this house and the wall next to it have recently been given a wonderful makeover by Zase and Dekor. This is typical of the large murals we expect from this magnificent pairing. See their work in Cottrell Road, featured previously.

Zase and Dekor, York Street, Bristol, September 2015
Zase and Dekor, York Street, Bristol, September 2015

Typical of their work are the scale, vibrant colours and dream-like scenes. I am not too sure what this is about, but flight appears to be the central theme.

Zase and Dekor, York Street, Bristol, September 2015
Zase and Dekor, York Street, Bristol, September 2015

These works all contain the main themed image with a wonderfully worked wildstyle signature incorporated.

Zase and Dekor, York Street, Bristol, September 2015
Zase and Dekor, York Street, Bristol, September 2015

Zase lives locally, and there are several more of his works nearby.

8/10

Transition

 

Delicate whisper

of Autumn’s steady advance;

time to button up.

 

by Scooj