Tag: Shoreditch

608.Sclater Street, Shoreditch (1)

I am enjoying my journey into the world of street/graffiti art and learning about the talented artists who brighten up our urban environments. Not so long ago, I didn’t know about Himbad and images of his work just sat in my archive waiting for a positive ID. Now I know who he is and can recognise his work – that is a good thing.

Himbad, Sclater Street, Shoreditch, August 2016
Himbad, Sclater Street, Shoreditch, August 2016

This piece is rather large and very impressive when looking down the street at it. If you are wondering how it was painted, there is a great explanation on the London Calling blog which has images of the artist in progress. All done with rollers and a very long pole! This is a wonderful piece, full of character.

607. Rivington Street, Shoreditch (5)

Just to mix things up a bit, I am going to write a few posts about some street art I photographed last Summer/Autumn when I was working two days a week in London. I thought I’d start with this rather eye-catching piece from Thierry Noir at the East end of Rivington Street in the archway by Cargo.

Thierry Noir, Rivington Street, Shoreditch, August 2016
Thierry Noir, Rivington Street, Shoreditch, August 2016

Thierry Noir’s pieces are simple and colourful, almost falling into the category of ‘well I could probably do that’ art. Well I probably couldn’t and the idea and style are his and he executes them brilliantly. The more of his work that I see, the more I like it.

543. Rivington Street, Shoreditch (4)

Another great artist to claim a wall in Rivington Street is My Dogs Sighs, and his piece is alongside other greats such as Fanakapan, Stinkfish and Thierry Noir. This is a piece typical of My Dog Sighs, composed of a pair of eyes, and on closer inspection a scene going on in the reflection of the eye itself.

My Dog Sighs, Rivington Street, Shoreditch, August 2016
My Dog Sighs, Rivington Street, Shoreditch, August 2016

This is a clever technique used by My Dog Sighs, and it is in the detail of the eye that the story lies. Difficult to make out, but the artist knows. It is always nice to stumble upon anything by My Dog Sighs.

542. Rivington Street, Shoreditch (3)

I am still working through a gigantic backlog of images from a wonderful late Summer spree in Shoreditch. This is a really great piece by Fanakapan in the amazing Rivington Street – a street with loads of superb walls.

Fanakapan, Rivington Street, Shoreditch, August 2016
Fanakapan, Rivington Street, Shoreditch, August 2016

Fanakapan never ceases to impress with his mastery of chrome and helium balloon reflection works. It is a technique he has refined and he now owns it. Boom. If I were being brutally honest though, I would say that this is not his best work, it seems to lack some of the freedom of other pieces he has done. Maybe the space is a bit awkward. It is very good nonetheless.

528. Rivington Street, Shoreditch, London (2)

A rather lovely simple piece on the front of Franco’s Takeaway on Rivington Street by the magnificent French street artist Thierry Noir. In this work, there are several of Thierry’s figures in bright colours looking as though they are in a queue for the takeaway shop. Intentional I’m sure.

Thierry Noir, Rivington Street, London, August 2016
Thierry Noir, Rivington Street, London, August 2016
I took this picture earlier on in the year when I had just begun a stint working in London two days a week. What a pleasure it was to be able to wander the streets of Shoreditch in the early evening discovering such delights. There is so much more to show you.

517. Hoxton Square, Shoreditch (2)

Alongside some lovely work by Fanakapan and Mr Cenz, Unify has painted this lovely spray can. Representing a spray can as the main subject or as a ‘bit part’ is one of the recurring themes that I have noticed in street art. Acknowledging the tools of the trade.

Unify, Hoxton Square, London, August 2016
Unify, Hoxton Square, London, August 2016
Unify’s work has a charming quality about it, although it is often accompanied by a social or political message, which adds to the depth of his pieces. An accomplished and productive artist, who would be very welcome to come again to Bristol anytime.

516. Grimsby Street, Shoreditch (1)

Stik is probably the most instantly recognisable street artist in the world. His simple stick figures hide a sophistication that is quite baffling really. They appear to convey such strong feelings and emotions, often compassionate. How does he do that?

Stik, Grimsby Street, London, August 2016
Stik, Grimsby Street, London, August 2016
This piece however is slightly different. Lurking in a backstreet that is a favourite for street artists are these two rather unfortunate characters puking up in the street. I don’t know what the story here is, but it is not like it isn’t something we all haven’t done, either through illness or over indulgence. Perhaps just a commentary on the human condition.

Stik, Grimsby Street, London, August 2016
Stik, Grimsby Street, London, August 2016
I absolutely love his work and have posted about the large piece in Bristol and charming wall in Chichester previously. More to come.

479. Jerome Street, Shoreditch (2)

Wheatpastes somehow lend themselves not only to bold political statements, but also to quirkiness and humour. I first encountered ‘Face The Strange’ at Upfest 2016 with his rather imaginative flying human ducks.

Face The Strange, Jerome Street, Shoreditch, September 2016
Face The Strange, Jerome Street, Shoreditch, September 2016

The basic technique adopted by Face The Stange, is to take every day objects and superimpose them onto the face of people, creating a rather unsettling and surreal effect. It is more than that though…as I have said many times one of the arts of wheatpasting is location and arrangement. In this aspect Face The Strange excels.

Face The Strange, Jerome Street, Shoreditch, September 2016
Face The Strange, Jerome Street, Shoreditch, September 2016

The other thing about paste ups is that they are rarely commissions, and therefore kind of illegal, which gives them an extra edge. This is my kind of stuff.

 

 

478. Jerome Street, Shoreditch (1)

Back to Shoreditch where I found this great stencil by Unify. It is called Go Fly Your Kite and features a teddy bear that has been used in other works by the artist. I first came across Unify in Bristol with this No Blowing Bubbles piece on the wall of the Highbury Vaults. It is still there.

Unify, Jerome Street, Shoreditch, September 2016
Unify, Jerome Street, Shoreditch, September 2016
I haven’t seen any more of his work in Bristol, but the more I wander around Shoreditch and Camden Town, the more pieces I am finding. I like his work a lot, and will post more when I am able to.

Unify, Jerome Street, Shoreditch, September 2016
Unify, Jerome Street, Shoreditch, September 2016

450. Cowper Street, Shoreditch, London (1)

When I first started my two days a week working in London this Summer, I stayed in a hotel on City Road and ventured out towards Shoreditch without really knowing what I would find. One of the first encounters with street art I had was this bold signature piece by Thierry Noir.

Thierry Noir, Cowper Street, London, August 2016
Thierry Noir, Cowper Street, London, August 2016

Thierry Noir is a significant French street artist and has a Wikipedia page just to emphasise the fact. He claims to have been the first street artist to paint the Berlin Wall…more in the link. I love his simple style and bold colours. He hardly needs to sign his works, but this one said to me ‘welcome to Shoreditch’.