2299. Dean Lane skate park (226)

Well these two seem to have come out of hibernation, and this is one of two recent collaborations between Soge and Hire. These two are both Polish artists who have adopted Bristol as their home and have been collaborating for a few years now.

Soge, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2019
Soge, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2019

On the left is a fine and rather complex piece of writing by Soge, which does actually spell out SOGE although it is highly disguised. His style is like a kind of organic Gothic and seems to be from the same school as Hire and quite unusual for Bristol. Long thin sections of lettering with sharp points, this is technically very difficult and brilliantly executed.

Hire, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2019
Hire, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2019

On the right is one of Hire’s trademark rabbits which are altogether more ‘street’ and sinister than the rather cuddly rabbits painted by fellow countryman Nevergiveup. There is a lot of menace in this rabbit – not one I’d like to meet on a dark night – and you can see how the fur, all pointy, reflects the style in Soge’s writing. These two would seen to enjoy each other’s company and it is a pleasure to see them back out and painting again.

2289. Jessop Underpass (3)

 

These rabbits have bred like well… err… rabbits. There are dozens of them all over the city, and I have lost count of how many I have posted or photographed, and still I have a whole load in my archive. This particular one is relatively recent I think, as I pass this way quite frequently and hadn’t noticed it before last week.

Nevergiveup, Jessop Underpass, Bristol, June 2019
Nevergiveup, Jessop Underpass, Bristol, June 2019

Nevergiveup, or Nevergiveup Familia (NGU) to give him his full tag lives up to his name and has a determination to brighten up the city with his bunnies, while still keeping his hand in with some graffiti writing. I’m not sure how he finds the energy. It would take a hard soul to consider this bunny as vandalism. What would you prefer? A standard green/grey utility box with nothing attractive about it or a cheerful bunny bringing a smile to commuters’ faces? It is a no brainer, but I am waiting for the local headlines that announce Bristol City Council’s stiffening resolve to eradicate such vandalism. I hope it doesn’t come to that, I and many others in Bristol are fond of NGU’s rabbits.

2179. Bedminster

Yes, another one, and still so many more to come that I have seen from the car, but haven’t yet been able to investigate on foot. These rabbits by Nevergiveup have certainly lived up to their fecund reputation and are multiplying all over the city.

Nevergiveup, Bedminster, Bristol, April 2019
Nevergiveup, Bedminster, Bristol, April 2019

I found this one while killing a few minutes waiting for my son who was training in Bristol South swimming pool. I don’t remember exactly the road it was in which is why this one gets the broad location ‘Bedminster’. All Nevergiveup’s bunnies are rather cute, but this one especially so.

2155. Little Paradise (2)

I think that perhaps I should have posted this yesterday, what with it being Easter Sunday and all that, but hindsight is a fickle fellow and treats us with a level of contempt. This beautiful bunny from Nevergiveup is in one of my favourite named streets in Bristol – Little Paradise. There are two bricked out windows in this alleyway, the other is occupies by a gorgeous Feoflip piece that has survived since Upfest 2017.

Nevergiveup, Little Paradise, Bristol, April 2019
Nevergiveup, Little Paradise, Bristol, April 2019

This bunny is a little dumpier than many but is no less charming, in fact I think that this is one of my faves. The pink background decoration sets the rabbit off really nicely, and the whole thing is full of good cheer. I am getting so far behind with the rabbits, I have seen at least seven newish ones all over Bristol, but not yet had a chance to photograph them. Nevergiveup has an Instagram account called @followmyrabbits, and you can see his full collection there.

2138. Nelson Street (12)

It’s in my head now, so I have to say it, but while looking at this wonderful bunny by Nevergiveup (#followmyrabbits), I hear the football chant “you see him here, you see him there, you see him every f***ing where” and that adequately describes this artist’s rabbits.

Nevergiveup, Nelson Street, Bristol, April 2019
Nevergiveup, Nelson Street, Bristol, April 2019

This charming fellow can be found in anything but charming surroundings at the top of some rather unpleasant concrete steps rising up from Nelson Street. It is great that this artist brings a glimmer of light and hope to such places. So many more rabbits to come.

2039. Dean Lane skate park (194)

Long before Bristol became inundated with Nevergiveup’s jolly bunny rabbits, there were some rather more moody, sinister even, rabbits lurking in dark corners. They were the creation of fellow Polish artist Hire. A little while back, Hire sprayed a few of these at Dean Lane, and this one with those scary eyes was, in my view the pick of the bunch.

Hire, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2018
Hire, Dean Lane, Bristol, October 2018

I haven’t seen any of his work for a little while now, but that is the name of the game… artists, just like the rest of us have peaks and troughs in the spare time they have, and maybe Hire is in one of those troughs. I really do like his rabbits, they have an edge to them.

2000. Dean Lane skate park (188)

Those rabbits, they just keep coming and you can never quite be sure where the next one is going to leap out at you from. You can be sure however that Nevergiveup will never give up and will keep spraying these little characters around not only Bristol, but wherever he finds himself.

Nevergiveup, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2019
Nevergiveup, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2019

This tall thin rabbit is on the gateway into the North Entrance of the Dean Lane skate park and is really skilfully sprayed on a highly textured stone surface. Just another reminder of the fun and quality created by this Polish artist.

1938. Cumberland Basin

So here we are again, different venue, different rabbit, same artist. I have said before that for as long as Nevergiveup paints them and as long as I find them, I will continue to post his bunnies here.

Nevergiveup, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, December 2018
Nevergiveup, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, December 2018

This one is on a door which is sited in the concrete wall underneath the Brunel Way bridge. There is a rich vein of rabbit material down here, and it seems that Nevergiveup will spray in places that others haven’t yet tried. Adventure.

1936. Shoreditch, London (16)

I think I timed my November trip to Shoreditch really well as it seemed that there were a whole load of fairly recent pieces, one of which is this extraordinary chrome rabbit underlit with pink light by Fanakapan. Better know for his helium balloon-style paintings, Fanakapan has in this instance gone for a solid chrome piece and shares some techniques with artists such as Bonsai.

Fanakapan, Shoreditch, London, November 2018
Fanakapan, Shoreditch, London, November 2018

At first when I saw this I wasn’t entirely sure it was by Fanakapan, because it is a bit different from other pieces I have seen by him. The face of the rabbit is brilliantly worked and as for the neon crown…doers it get any better than this?

1917. Cumberland Basin

There has been something of a population explosion of bunnies in Bristol recently…it would seem that Nevergiveup Familia has balls of steel and will spray just about any inanimate object in the city.

Nevergiveup, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, December 2018
Nevergiveup, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, December 2018

These are two of his more recent additions from the Cumberland Basin, one on either side of the floating harbour. These two are slightly smaller than his usual door-sized bunnies and are sprayed on utility boxes.

Nevergiveup, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, December 2018
Nevergiveup, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, December 2018

I am definitely a fan and will post rabbits as I find them, but probably bunch them together as there are just so many.