2022. Stokes Croft

Something a bit different today. Where Stokes Croft and City Road meet, there are some poster frames on a wall, which I think have been installed by the People’s Republic of Stokes Croft (PRSC). The posters here could easily be mistaken for the random advertising we are subjected to on a daily basis and which we tend to ignore and filter out as white noise. But take a slightly closer look and you’ll see something quite different.

Unknown artist, Stokes Croft, Bristol, January 2019
Unknown artist, Stokes Croft, Bristol, January 2019

I don’t know who the artist(s) is/are that put these posters together, but I thoroughly enjoy seeing them when I walk past. Often with some political undertone the wry humour shines through. The first is of a spoof Evening Standard (check the spelling) billboard, stating that ‘things can only get bitter’ a direct reference to the current Brexit crisis that continues to divide the country.

Unknown artist, Stokes Croft, Bristol, January 2019
Unknown artist, Stokes Croft, Bristol, January 2019

The next poster shows a portrait of David Cameron with paper peeling off where his face is to reveal large corporate office blocks (banks?) behind – surely they are not suggesting the ex PM was driven by capitalist ideology..?

Unknown artist, Stokes Croft, Bristol, January 2019
Unknown artist, Stokes Croft, Bristol, January 2019

The third poster is a commentary on the ‘social media brain drain’ with a character, loosely based on Mickey Mouse encouraging people to look up from their phones. I wonder how many people look up and read this poster…not many I would guess.

All of these posters are provocative and humorous and I’ll keep looking out for more. Perhaps I’ll get lucky and find out who is behind them too.

2021. Moon Street (59)

In a spot in Moon Street that is favoured by Laic217 and Rezwonk is this relatively new piece by Run Z. Like most of the abstract artists in Bristol, he has his own particular and distinctive style. Usually only spraying in one or two colours Run Z creates these swirling designs that have an organic feel to them.

Run Z, Moon Street, Bristol, January 2019
Run Z, Moon Street, Bristol, January 2019

Since visiting Lawrence Hill roundabout the other day, I note that Run Z is much more productive that I had first thought, but perhaps just not in the places I’m used to looking. I like his work and would like to see more of it… I’m especially interested in seeing how it develops.

2020. The Bearpit (174)

Fingers emerging out of clouds set on a blue background with pink spots. Unmistakably a piece by Object… but what is different about this is the gentleness of it and the pink spots are something I’ve not seen him use before.

Object..., The Bearpit, Bristol, January 2019
Object…, The Bearpit, Bristol, January 2019

I love the passion and often rage in Object…’s pieces but every once in a while it is great to see something that is perhaps more subtle. I’m not too sure what the story is here, or why one of the fingers appears to be pushing the crown down, but there is a story. Also I rather like the broken nail by way of observation. This bit of wall is a devil to photograph, but thankfully I was there on an overcast day and so the shadows were not too much of a problem. Nice piece.

2019. M32 roundabout J3 (125)

Another artist who seems to have upped his game over the last six months or so is Soap. I’m sure that I struggled to find any of his work for an age but now, I am pleased to say, I stumble across new pieces nearly every time I venture out.

Soap, M32 roundabout, Bristol, January 2019
Soap, M32 roundabout, Bristol, January 2019

This is a bad picture (the light was unkind) of a lovely piece by the artist, and one that extends his ‘standard’ motif into something a little more animated and fun. The addition of eyes creates a new sense of mischief and character. Great colours and really nicely worked patterns – this is a corker from Soap.

2018. Lower Ashley Road (2)

Sled One has absolutely smashed it with this extraordinarily brilliant piece of graffiti writing on the new hoardings at the bottom end of Lower Ashley Road. Sadly, the developers have already placed batten squares all over the hoardings in preparation for advertising posters (I guess). How sad that our world is dominated by consumerism and money. These boards were a creative outlet for Bristol street artists to share their art with fellow citizens. Instead, drivers will have to endure seedy adverts desperately thrusting lifestyle aspirations at us in an attempt to sell their grubby products to swell their shareholders wallets. Capitalism is driving everything towards the lowest common denominator of money. No wonder the world is in a mess.

Sled One, Lower Ashley Road, Bristol, January 2019
Sled One, Lower Ashley Road, Bristol, January 2019

Back to the art and the joy it can bring to our hearts. Sled One is one of the artists I rate most highly in Bristol and this piece (which spells out SLED) is a fine example of his work. He had to paint this in two sessions as he was ‘moved on’ I think when he was sketching it out. Thank goodness he had the perseverance to come back and finish it off. I hope the artists find a way of keeping these hoardings alive, but I fear it could be difficult.

2017. M32 roundabout J3 (124)

Yet more fantastic abstract work from Mr Klue in the shape of this large wispy piece on the St Werburghs side of the M32 roundabout. There is no other artist I know of producing anything like this, Mr Klue’s style is utterly unique.

Mr Klue, M32 roundabout, Bristol, January 2019
Mr Klue, M32 roundabout, Bristol, January 2019

Mr Klue recently posted a couple of pieces (I think it was a studio work) on Instagram which feature a lamppost set in a landscape of swirls – truly awesome work and worth a look. I will never tire of his work, and am glad that he has rediscovered his mojo and is out there being creative and brilliant.

2016. M32 roundabout J3 (123)

Oner has been very, very busy lately and this was a quick one he sprayed a week or so ago on the M32 roundabout. I actually caught up with him just as he was finishing off and he made time for a good chat, although I know that many graffiti writers like to just get on with their work uninterrupted.

Oner, M32 roundabout, Bristol, January 2019
Oner, M32 roundabout, Bristol, January 2019

We talked a little about how he likes to work alone, which I can see is a real benefit if you want to have flexibility and spontineity. This is a nice piece with good colour selection and great letters. I love the drips on the ‘e’ and the bleed onto the pavement. Many more to come from this prolific writer.

2015. St Werburghs tunnel (62)

A new week, and to celebrate I am introducing you to an artist to the pages of Natural Adventures, Atchue. Although I have seen some of his pieces before, I have not known who the artist was until recently. The good news is that I have some of his work in my archives and I can dig it out when I do some of my ‘housekeeping’.

Atchue, St Werburghs, Bristol, January 2019
Atchue, St Werburghs, Bristol, January 2019

His work tends to be big, pink and bold and cartoon in style. This face reminds me of the artwork you used to see in comics like the Beano, Beezer and Dandy. The little quote on the side seems to reflect the thoughts of this marginally grotesque character…”Boobs covered in Angel Delight, yum yum”.

There is something endearing about this gurning character, and certainly it is eye-catching. Nice one to start off with.

2014. The Bearpit (173)

It has become a rare thing indeed to find much new work in The Bearpit, which is why finding this lovely piece by Skor85 was such a nice surprise. I’m afraid the quote is a little lost on me, but it feels like there is an interesting story behind this piece.

Skip forward about fifteen minutes and I have found some stuff on the Interweb that probably explains the background to the piece, and it would seem to be linked to an art project by Pierre Huyghe and Philippe Parreno.

Skor85, The Bearpit, Bristol, January 2019
Skor85, The Bearpit, Bristol, January 2019

I am pleased that I had spotted a Manga connection and was going to comment on it, but feel a little fraudulent writing about it, knowing that I have been able to confirm my hunch subsequently. I love Skor85’s work which nearly always has a dream like narrative to it. It has been a long time since I have seen anything by her.

 

 

2013. Dean Lane skate park (189)

Back to home soil now and the warm and familiar sight of a Dean Lane piece by Laic217. This is the second recent piece that I have seen where he has been playing with these red eyes which are slightly disconcerting in their non-human (robotic) quality.

Laic217, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2019
Laic217, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2019

There is a slight shift in style too in this overall piece. To me it has a water-colour kind of quality and looks like it has been lifted from an artist’s sketchbook. This feels like Laic217 is moving on to a new level, where his confidence and competence is allowing him to experiment more.

Laic217, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2019
Laic217, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2019

I believe he was supposed to be painting this wall with Cort and Cros, but had arrived long before the others and had pretty much finished before they arrived. This is a pity, because it is a long time since I last met this elusive artist.