Tag: Protest

2984. Turbo Island

Clearly, this piece is more about the subject than it is about the artist, however as a chronicler of street art in Bristol I reserve the right to acknowledge and praise the artist Hazard for painting such a poignant and striking piece for #blacklivesmatter.

Hazard, Turbo Island, Bristol, June 2020
Hazard, Turbo Island, Bristol, June 2020

This is yet another wonderful and uniquely Bristolian piece from this brilliant artist. How lucky to have had two new pieces from her in recent weeks.

Hazard, Turbo Island, Bristol, June 2020
Hazard, Turbo Island, Bristol, June 2020

Of course, the Bristol BLM demonstration has hit the headlines at the weekend for the pulling down and throwing into the floating harbour of a statue commemorating Edward Colston, a Bristol slave trader. This lawless act has caused consternation at the highest levels of government, but I have to say it was completely understandable and rather predictable. The Bristol constabulary were amazing in the way they dealt with the demonstration and prevented anything flaring up by keeping a light touch approach to policing. One really has to ask what a statue commemorating Colston was doing in the centre of town in this day and age in the first place.

Without denying our history (a dangerous avenue) perhaps it is time to have a review of our commemorative monuments in today’s context and to mothball or place into historical museums statues that are inappropriate today.

Rebellion continues

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In Parliament Square

I’m awestruck by the protest

and I meet a friend.

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by Scooj

  • Extinction Rebellion is a selfless movement that has a global future very much in mind. I must find a way to get involved without risk of losing my job.

1702. The Bearpit (160)

We had a wet day in Bristol a couple of weeks back, and it looks like Object…took refuge in the tunnels of The Bearpit, and painted several of the boards there in a single session, featuring monsters and explosions.

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

This piece is typical of the artist with a strong undertone of politics and representation of the disadvantaged and tortured body parts of animals and people. I continue to enjoy his pieces which always seem to portray outrage and pain.

 

 

1454. The Bearpit (139)

In some parts of British society there has been considerable discomfort and anger directed towards the Government for joining the USA and France in bombing Syria without consutling with Parliament first. Mistakes have been made in the past, particularly over WMD which has suggested a more considered aproach might be necessary. As a result of the bombing, protests have become prominent in all walks of life. This is a graffiti art protest.

Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, April 2018
Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, April 2018

Of course the two pieces (I admire his ability to recreate the same image freehand almost exactly) are by Decay, who has been making a deliberate effort to diversify his customary abstract radiating pieces, and this is a good example of something different.

Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, April 2018
Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, April 2018

This little character, tinged with rage, conveys the message clearly and inoffensively. These were both sprayed for the Spring paint jam in The Bearpit.

1202. Upfest 2017 (112)

This is the official and rather awesome piece by Helen Bur who also left Bristol a little extra gift at the M32 roundabout. HB appears to be equally at home on a sketch pad, on canvass or on a wall, and her website showcases her work magnificently – I recommend watching the video of her piece in Cardiff.

Helen Bur, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Helen Bur, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

I think Helen Bur’s work is really special and her style lends itself so very well to large walls. It would be great if she came back next year and got one of the larger permanent walls so that we could enjoy it for a year, rather than a few days.

722, The Bearpit (59)

I include these pieces by Mr Draws, because they represent a strong reference point for the role street/graffiti art play in social commentary. In Bristol, and I imagine in cities all over the World, we face changes to our local communities happening at a rate faster than ever before. Globalisation and the advent of the Interweb have driven change, and along with the ‘progress’ this affords us, it also brings with it casualties.

Mr Draws, The Bearpit, Bristol, March 2017
Mr Draws, The Bearpit, Bristol, March 2017

The Bearpit sits at the end of the A38 (Cheltenham Road/Stokes Croft/Gloucester Road), which is famed for being one of the longest continuous ‘independent’ high streets in Britain. This is a claim that is disputable since a number of supermarket chains and coffee shops have moved in. As independent shops have struggled with the economic downturn, their premises have been bought up by supermarket ‘local’ outlets and by global coffee chains. It is this ‘changing of the guard’ that vexes so many citizens, particularly in a fiercely independent part of a fiercely independent city.

Mr Draws, The Bearpit, Bristol, March 2017
Mr Draws, The Bearpit, Bristol, March 2017

As for the works themselves, these are quick pieces from an artist normally associated with his stylised mountains. I like this political twist to his work which is becoming more and more creative as time goes on.

Mr Draws, The Bearpit, Bristol, March 2017
Mr Draws, The Bearpit, Bristol, March 2017