Tag: Political

1799. St Werburghs tunnel (46)

With his style so unlike anything else in Bristol, it is easy to pick out Object…’s work wherever he places it. This piece in St Werburghs tunnel features a distorted humanoid monster – a thing of nightmares – doing something, although I’m not too sure what. As with all his work Object… has a real sense of physiology and plays with proportions and muscles and limbs – the art of the possible.

Object..., St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2018
Object…, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2018

Themes in his work often reflect the unfairness in our society and he tirelessly represents the rage felt by many at injustice. He is probably the most politically motivated in Bristol and his agonising plays out in his work. Tortured, compassionate, angry and sad, his work carries with it huge emotional investment. All good.

1770. The Bearpit (162)

The conscience of our city is given a voice or at least a ‘visual voice’ via the prolific and passionate work of activist Object… . Without doubt, Object…’s work is moving, angry and political in equal measure and his ‘tortured’ figures represent pain and suffering of others.

Object...,The Bearpit, Bristol, October 2018
Object…,The Bearpit, Bristol, October 2018

In this piece the figures are in conversation with one or both saying ‘or you could handle it with some compassion‘. I’m not too sure to what this refers, but I think the message could be read on several levels, from the personal to local to national or even global level. We are living through hard times and compassion is taking a real beating. I’m sure these lurches to the right will come to an end, but for the time being we must endure them and push back wherever possible.

1417. The Bearpit (129)

I recently found out, from reading an interview with John D’oh, that he tends to create these single layer political stencils for places like The Bearpit, where their lifespan may at times be only a day or two. His more complex multi-layered work is reserved for walls where longevity is more likely…an utterly understandable position.

John D'oh, The Bearpit, Bristol, February 2018
John D’oh, The Bearpit, Bristol, February 2018

This piece is highly critical of Theresa May and the growing problem of homelessness and rough sleeping that is plaguing towns and cities across the UK. I really like the work he does and the way he uses his art to express political ideas. Much of his artwork tends to encourage ‘embellishment’ from passers by, and this one is no exception. The ‘cock and balls’ motif being put to good use.

Keep it going John D’oh.

1185. Leonard Lane (14)

John d’Oh has been very busy lately on the streets of Bristol, but this is the first time I have seen his work in Leonard Lane. Typical of his work, he takes a strong political line, and in this stencil he celebrates a Corbyn revolution.

John D'Oh, Leonard Lane, Bristol, November 2017
John D’Oh, Leonard Lane, Bristol, November 2017

This is beautifully worked, and of course I particularly like it because of its edge. There are many more pieces by John d’Oh that I have in my archive and I might have to start bunching them together, simply to be able to share them.

980. The Bearpit (86)

Object… has been busy in The Bearpit again, with a flurry of political pieces. This one cleverly uses the existing posters that were pasted to the wall as a colourful and contextual backdrop to his central piece.

Object..., The Bearpit, Bristol, August 2017
Object…, The Bearpit, Bristol, August 2017

This is a really good piece, creative and imaginative, and always with an edge that we expect from Object… . The character is imprisoned in a circle and encouraged with the words ‘push past their walls’.

Object..., The Bearpit, Bristol, August 2017
Object…, The Bearpit, Bristol, August 2017

There is a strong feeling of movement and momentum in this piece and it works really well for me, but it would, wouldn’t it?

939. Upfest 2017 (13)

You can be pretty sure that when Goin takes to the street, the work he produces will have an edge and political aspect. His piece for Upfest was no exception this year. He has created a large monochrome stencil of a traditional working-class paperboy holding up a newspaper with the words ‘Bullshit’s Tories’.

Goin, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Goin, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

I believe that Goin is French and this might give us a clue to the slightly curious wording. It is obviously an anti-Tory slogan, but doesn’t quite read right. It matters not one jot though, because it is pretty overt either way, and the piece is really powerful.

Goin, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Goin, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

I like Goin’s work a lot, but was very slack last year, and missed out on his main Upfest piece. It was slightly off the main drag, and by the time I went to photograph it, it had gone. Not this year.

TMay Rex

 

Stubborn, obstinate,

uncompromising, severe,

arrogant old fool.

 

by Scooj

723. Stokes Croft, the Carriageworks (23)

I really enjoy the political edge that street art brings to us, and one artist more than any other in Bristol, challenges the status quo and presents us with philosophical and political thoughts. ObjectØØØ.

Object000, Stokes Croft, Bristol, April 2017
Object000, Stokes Croft, Bristol, April 2017

It is a while since I posted anything from the arches of the Carriageworks, but things have become busy there recently. This piece by ObjectØØØ is of an organic robotic creature and carries a stark warning:

‘As all these incredible new technologies come online, who benefits? The warmongers and profiteers. Maybe technology can save us, but not in the hands of self-serving elites…‘

Object000, Stokes Croft, Bristol, April 2017
Object000, Stokes Croft, Bristol, April 2017

This is ObjectØØØ in full flow and at his creative best. Full of rage, anger and passion. I love this piece. RESIST.

Object000, Stokes Croft, Bristol, April 2017
Object000, Stokes Croft, Bristol, April 2017

714. The Bearpit (56)

I love the passionate and political messages contained in the works of Object∅∅∅. In this piece, which sadly only lasted a few days, he seems to be having a swipe at those who eradicate or remove street art with their ‘anti-graff’ paint. I guess his target is Bristol City Council, although I can’t be sure.

Object000, The Bearpit, Bristol, March 2017
Object000, The Bearpit, Bristol, March 2017

I like the plastic bag containing ObjectØØØ’s spray cans – there is something really functional and worthy about keeping your paints in an old plastic bag – it is beautifully painted too.

612. The Bearpit (37)

Back to the Bearpit and some recent work by ObjectØØØ. As always his very individual style carries with it so much emotion and passion combined with political statement. The figures in his work always feel distorted and tortured by struggle against inequity.

Object000, The Bearpit, Bristol, January 2017
Object000, The Bearpit, Bristol, January 2017

This piece is located at the end of the tunnel where the artificial light meets the daylight, and it is really hard to get a decent photograph, but I have done my best. I like to feature ObjectØØØ’s work whenever I find it because I am fascinated by how much the artist invests himself in his work.

Object000, The Bearpit, Bristol, January 2017
Object000, The Bearpit, Bristol, January 2017

The commentary is a little ambiguous, but I think I know what he is getting at. Great to see some new work from this unusual street artist.