Tag: Street art

2186. Horfield skate park (5)

Back to Bristol now, after a short excursion to London, and a more familiar street art scene altogether. This is the second of two recent finds by John D’oh in Horfield skate park. I suppose it is possible that they were produced around the same time.

John D'oh, Horfield skate park, Bristol, April 2019
John D’oh, Horfield skate park, Bristol, April 2019

This stencil features Batman and a quote from John D’oh that reads ‘I son’t want Michael Gove as Prime Minister I want Batman AKA Jeremy Corbyn’. This is in reference to a televised speech made by Michael Gove in which the automated subtitles said Batman instead of ‘that man’ when he was talking about the leader of the opposition. Very funny really, and great work from John D’oh to capture it in this way. I think we’d all prefer Batman to any of the potential candidates in the Tory party right now. What an utter shower of toxic right-wingers.

2185. Hanbury Street, London (2)

I am often caught in two minds about the ‘high-end’ street art that is much more common in London than in Bristol, because it can appear to forget where its roots are sometimes. This is a fairly weak observation, because actually I pretty much love the entire street/graffiti art spectrum, but what I particularly love about Dale Grimshaw’s work is that for me it bridges the gap between the street and the posh stuff so very well.

Dale Grimshaw, Hanbury Street, London, April 2019
Dale Grimshaw, Hanbury Street, London, April 2019

This amazing piece is typical of Dale Grimshaw’s work and was painted a day or two before I took this picture, so I tyhink I got really lucky. Here’s what he had to say abou it on Instagram:

Latest wall piece in London. Imagery from PNG but highlighting the occupation & atrocities in West Papua by Indonesia.

A man with a message and exceptional talent.

2183. Allen Gardens, London (2)

It was great to be able to show my sister this wall back in April, because pretty much the entire length of it was  being actively sprayed. It is not often that you happen to be in the right place at the right time to witness a paint jam in progress, especially when Tizer is involved.

Bapsta and Tizer, Allen Gardens, London, April 2019
Bapsta and Tizer, Allen Gardens, London, April 2019

I believe the artist in the picture is Bapsta and that Tizer was probably wandering around, because even though the artists were doing their finishing touches, I don’t think they had started to disperse. If I had been here alone I expect I would have spoken to a few of them because I really don’t know much about the London scene.

It was a privilege and a bit of luck to see these guys in action.

2182. Allen Gardens, London (1)

One of the refreshing things about visiting Shoreditch or Camden Town is that every piece I see is a new discovery. What I mean by that is I don’t really follow London street art on social media, so when I see a piece ‘in the flesh’ it is usually the first time I have seen it or even know of it. In Bristol, I will have seen the majority of street/graffiti art works on Instagram before I ‘find’ them and photograph them. What this also means is that I know relatively little about the London artists, and for my own sanity probably need to keep it that way.

Cokyone, Allen Gardens, London, April 2019
Cokyone, Allen Gardens, London, April 2019

When I visited Allen Gardens in April I think that this piece by Cockyone was relatively new, it certainly looked incredibly fresh. When it comes to birds I think that kingfishers are a real crowd-pleaser, because of their beauty and character, and they frequently feature in street art. I think this is a wonderful piece, skilfully blending abstract grayscale patterns with the vibrant colours of the bird and the crown tops the whole thing off nicely.

2181. Nomadic Community Garden, London (2)

This is a wild, weird and wonderfully executed piece at the entrance of the Nomadic Community Garden just off Brick Lane by the London-based artist Woskerski. I know that skulls are not everyone’s cup of tea, but they play a hugely important part in the street art scene… don’t ask me why, they just do.

Woskerski, Nomadic Community Garden, London, April 2019
Woskerski, Nomadic Community Garden, London, April 2019

Now any skull has a rather dark look about it, but this one is both dark and slightly crazy. There is something disconcerting about that eye floating in its socket and the X in the other socket. What I love about the piece though is the textures and lines and shading that give the piece definition and depth. A masterful work.

2180. Rivington Street, London, (8)

This doorway (if you care to look on streetview, which is a little out of date now) used to be reasonably clean, and only the little squirrel stencil (bottom right) by Bristol’s Stewy occupied the space. Things move fast in the street art/graff world and I have seen dozens of wheatpastes and larger pieces on the doors. This one I think has to be the pick of the bunch.

Nether410, Rivington Street, London, April 2019
Nether410, Rivington Street, London, April 2019

Although I had been aware of this beautiful piece by Nether410 from my trip to Shoreditch last November, it wasn’t until I visited in April this year that I actually found it. There is a big story unfolding, which touches on incarceration and freedom, humanity and nature. A stunning and thoughtful piece. Skylark security can piss off though. (My apologies).

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.

2178. Upper York Street (15)

I have been waiting a long time to be able to post this piece. I have walked past it dozens of times, but cars have been parked in front, blocking anything like a decent picture. Obviously the writing is by Epok but I have a feeling, having seen some tattoo designs on Instagram, that the toadstool is by 3Dom. This is highly possible as the two do like to paint together.

Epok and 3Dom?, Upper York Street, Bristol, April 2019
Epok and 3Dom?, Upper York Street, Bristol, April 2019

Surrounded by street furniture and what is left of a bicycle it is virtually impossible to get as clean shot of this wall, so this is about as good as it gets. The rather touching thing about this piece is the three tributes to Mibzy, Buzz and CKOne each one a much loved and admired character from the Bristol street art scene.

2177. Wilder Street (28)

Aah, the clean lines and cartoon/tattoo style of Sepr. Finding his pieces in such crisp and pristine condition is always a real pleasure, and this one is a real beauty. There are some common motifs in this piece from Sepr, including a musical instrument and some rather mischievous looking birds.

Sepr, Wilder Street, Bristol, April 2019
Sepr, Wilder Street, Bristol, April 2019

The musician looks a little uncomfortable, intimidated even by the birds , especially the angry one on the left saying ‘CHA!’. The joy of these pieces is in the detail, for example, the musician is releasing spittle from the trumpet and it is dripping onto the back of the bird on the right who is looking suitably miffed.

Sepr, Wilder Street, Bristol, April 2019
Sepr, Wilder Street, Bristol, April 2019

This wall, curated by Where the Wall, is a favourite with ASK artists and Sepr in particular has done several great pieces here before. I just love the way he tells a story in a clean, clear way, without any fuss filling the space. Just bloody classy.

Sepr, Wilder Street, Bristol, November 2017
Sepr, Wilder Street, Bristol, November 2017

 

2176. M32 Cycle path (24)

Rezwonk is another Bristol artist who has been rather busy on the streets lately, bombing here and there, tagging this and that and creating these rather decorative ‘designer’ burners, either in collaborations or as in this case, solo.

Rezwonk, M32 cycle path, Bristol, April 2019
Rezwonk, M32 cycle path, Bristol, April 2019

Rezwonk has perfected the art of straight line stripes, which I think he does freehand. I like his work, and I have been posting it for about a year or so now. I’m not entirely sure how much street work he was doing before that, but it is difficult to go to any spot in Bristol now that doesn’t have a little signature from this artist.