Tag: Street art

4324. M32 roudabout J3 (397)

Like so many of the artists in Bristol, Varo seems to go through very busy periods and then goes quiet for a while, before returning with a burst of activity. I managed to catch up with Varo briefly just as he was finishing off this extraordinary piece. The conversation was a little fragmented, because Varo’s English is a little bit basic, and my Spanish non-existent. We discussed the surreal and crazy nature of the piece.

Varo, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2022
Varo, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2022

Normally Varo’s work is quite easy to identify, but this piece is completely off the wall and had I not been there, I’m not sure that I would have been able to identify the artist. It feels like a comic-book Picasso, if you get my meaning, but to try and work out what the story is might just do my head in, so I am not going to attempt to interpret it. I prefer to stick with the ‘crazy’ descriptor. It is great to see something so utterly different and challenging.

4323. Greenbank (32)

This is the second piece from Laic217 that I have seen that is overtly in support of Ukraine, and this time the content and style is much more what we would expect from him. The masked characters, that Laic217 has been painting on and off for years, now take on a rather more sinister and relevant meaning in the context of war.

Laic217, Greenbank, Bristol, March 2022
Laic217, Greenbank, Bristol, March 2022

Set on a backdrop of a Ukrainian flag, the two characters cannot be seen, but are hidden from view by their heavy masks and headgear, rendering them anonymous. It is this anonymity (particularly of the Russian aggressors) of all that is going on in the war that contributes to our feeling of helplessness. News clips and short moments of footage, distressing interviews and reports leave us with the bare bones of a picture, and we make up the gaps in our imaginations.

This one is for Ukrainian artists and writers. Perfect.

4322. Horfield skate park (8)

This is a poignant stencil piece from John D’oh up at Horfield skate park. As is so often the case, John D’oh perfectly captures the moment and presents it to us with a political slant. His work can often include strong, assertive and for some, uncomfortable messages, but they capture a mood in a contemporary way.

John D'oh, Horfield Skate Park, Bristol, March 2022
John D’oh, Horfield Skate Park, Bristol, March 2022

The blue and yellow give this piece away as being about the Russian invasion of Ukraine by the ruthless and deluded dictator Putin. A little girl crouches in front of an urban landscape with a red cross emblazoned on it and between them is a hand rising from the ground on which there is a discarded stethoscope. The caption is too awful; ‘war ends lives before they have begun’. This piece speaks to the horrors unfolding in cities like Mariupol, where innocent people, women and children, have been murdered while seeking refuge. I do hope that Putin and his generals and political supporters get lynched when this is all over.

4321. Greenbank (31)

This unusual piece from Zoe Power brings us back on topic with the most important issue of the moment, the dreadful invasion of Ukraine by the Russian dictator Putin. I am moved and humbled by the number of pieces that Bristol artists have painted supporting the Ukrainian people in their time of need – in the absence of being able to do much, showing support is a very good thing that we can all do.

Zoe Power, Greenbank, Bristol, March 2022
Zoe Power, Greenbank, Bristol, March 2022

Zoe Power has used the blue and yellow colours of the Ukrainian flag to paint a dove of peace and to offer some kind words, ‘Welcome Refugees’. This is a sentiment shared by a vast number of British people, but sadly not by a government who have been overtly hostile to any kind of refugees entering the UK since coming in to power twelve years ago. In this moment, a time when Europe is seeing its greatest refugee crisis since WWII, we are once again observing their true colours, playing to their xenophobic supporters who have kept them in power all this time. Shame on our government. They do not represent me. All power to Zoe Power for speaking from the heart with compassion and love.

4320. M32 roundabout J3 (396)

You can wait for ages, and then two pieces from Subtle come along in quick succession. This is the first of two recent, and really rather decent, works from Subtle. This one is on the M32 roundabout, and the other one, which I will write about in due course, is at Greenbank. Both feature Jerry from the carton series Tom and Jerry.

Subtle, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2022
Subtle, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2022

It rather looks like this piece is a ‘love letter’ in graffiti form (Jerry definitely looks bashfully in love), but it is always so difficult to read between the lines on such things. Subtle terms this a ‘quick one’ on his Instagram account, but that is just ridiculous, how can anything so beautifully proportioned and clean and crisp be a ‘quick one’ I ask you? Great to see new work from this great graffiti writer.

4319. The Paintworks (2)

Merny is an artist who portrays moments of everyday life in a way that turns the mundane and ordinary into the extraordinary. It reminds me of the Aardman electricity adverts, called Creature Comforts, from a few years ago, where sound recordings of rather boring conversations were brought to life by illustrating them with animals using stop-frame model animation (from the Wallace and Gromit team). Merny’s work is the static version of this creative approach.

Merny, Paintworks, Bristol, March 2022
Merny, Paintworks, Bristol, March 2022

This piece was created earlier this year, but having only recently found this spot, it is all new to me. ‘Relax Tony, I am elite reiki healer pls’ – this is so funny, and perfectly accompanied by two characters acting out the scene, incorporating the bullet labels that we see on Merny’s work. Another fabulous story piece in Merny’s inimitable style.

4318. Turbo Island

There is no question that this a fabulous piece, and Ryder clearly demonstrates that he is not only a ‘letters’ man, but is equally adept at creating characters.

I have a reservation about this piece though, not of its quality, but because I always struggle with street art being used to advertise commercial products, unless as a commission on a commissioned space. Somehow, it just doesn’t sit right with me and I know I am being super-picky, but the street art and Graffiti art community is one that is usually at the front of the queue to complain about consumerism and advertising. I expect this piece was painted for friends, and is at the acceptable end of the advertising spectrum, so I will get over myself and stop here.

Ryder, Turbo Island, Bristol, March 2022
Ryder, Turbo Island, Bristol, March 2022

This is an eye-catching piece at a spot that seems to lurch from high quality pieces to absolute dross and this certainly sits in the former category. The Cheshire cat with its huge grin is outstanding, and the blue and red colours work so well on the black and white of the piece. Love the roller painter Ryder above the piece. Nice work from one of the best.

4317. Greenbank (30)

On the long wall at Greenbank, which really is very long indeed, is this magnificent collaborative effort from Conrico and Rozalita. The writing and portrait combo is bursting with life and colour, and is rather spectacular.

Conrico, Greenbank, Bristol, March 2022
Conrico, Greenbank, Bristol, March 2022

To the left, Conrico has gone for some pretty wicked writing set on a fanciful sea, woodland and mountainous landscape. The letters have an animated feel about them and look lively on the calm and tranquil backdrop.

Rozalita, Greenbank, Bristol, March 2022
Rozalita, Greenbank, Bristol, March 2022

To the right, Rozalita is continuing on her extraordinary journey of improvement and diversification. The girl with a yellow face, green hair and red beret is arguably one of her best portraits yet, and is a perfect example of how far she has come in a relatively short space of time. We are spoilt in Bristol to have Rozalita and her amazing portraits appearing all over the place.

Conrico and Rozalita, Greenbank, Bristol, March 2022
Conrico and Rozalita, Greenbank, Bristol, March 2022

Overall this is a lovely, cheerful collaboration. I look forward to so much more from both artists.

4316. M32 roundabout J3 (395)

With a little bit of Angry Face peeping in from the left, we have the second piece from Maybe Paints in support of Ukraine. I have to say that I am deeply moved by the spirit of the British people (not including our despicable government), in the outpouring of support for Ukraine, a country on the periphery of our collective consciousness only a few weeks ago. My local high street is festooned with Ukrainian blue and yellow flags from top to bottom, and I am proud of that.

Maybe, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2022
Maybe, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2022

This small and humble piece by Maybe Paints is typical of his face to face work and sometimes, with pieces like this, less is more. The tear tells us all we need to know. It is great to see Maybe working a little bit further away from his safe zone inner Brunel Way. Selfishly, I hope to see more of his work in North Bristol.

4315. Stokes Croft

Although I struggle to keep on top of the sheer volume of amazing street art and graffiti that appears in Bristol every day, I always make space on Natural Adventures for Pekoe. She is one of a handful of artists whose work I will try my hardest to post whenever I photograph it. Another example would be Laic217. There is something about Pekoe’s portraits that I find compelling and unique and feel the need to share.

Pekoe, Stokes Croft, Bristol, March 2022
Pekoe, Stokes Croft, Bristol, March 2022

This piece has been here fort a little while, but I only recently got round to photographing it. Before this piece there was another of her pieces, but this one is a real beauty. Fabulous colours and a half body portrait, rather than just a head. The piece overlooks the summer seating area of a café and is immediately below the recently refreshed Stinkfish piece in Stokes Croft. Very nice work indeed.

Pekoe, Stokes Croft, Bristol, January 2018
Pekoe, Stokes Croft, Bristol, January 2018