Tag: Street art

1403. Upfest 2017 (160).

There is an interesting story to this collaboration ‘Girl and Death’ in so much as it was not a planned collaboration at all…it just kind of happened. How do I know this? I discovered it on the Instagram feed of one of the artists involved, Nino Werner:

‘After a night of crazy partying, we started this painting with no real direction first & just enjoyed the fun show that is Bristol Streetart Festival called @upfest . What first started as two separate pieces merged together in the process when we got to know the very talented fella (Luke) next to our dedicated painting spot, who was also painting in black and white, but also added gold. We like shiny things so we grabbed some golden paint and made the separate artworks merge together. The painting is either a reference to a sketch of famous Norwegian artist Edvard Munch (also called Girl and Death) or the fun party night and the hangover David had the next day when we painted it.‘

It is always great to get a bit of insight from the artists themselves.

Nino Werner, Javi, David Schumann, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Nino Werner, Javi, David Schermann, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

The girl on the left of the collaboration is by Nino Werner, Javi and David Schermann, who I believe visited Upfest from Austria. And on the right of the piece is an intricate skull in black white and gold by Luke Gray.

Nino Werner, Javi, David Schumann and Luke Grey, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Nino Werner, Javi, David Schermann and Luke Gray, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

Luke Gray has a fabulous website which is well worth a visit. His biography states that he is from the UK and is a nomadic surrealist symbolist painter. He was born colour blind and works in an almost exclusively black and white pallette, using patterns and textures rather than colours.

A fine accidental collaboration.

 

1402. Upfest 2017 (159)

This, slightly unfinished, piece by Envol presents visitors to Upfest with something very different from the usual fare served up.  His work is best described by his entry in the Upfest programme:

‘Envol paints realism fused with experimental, Deco era inspired designs and a touch of neoclassicism. His ethereal yet bold compositions are crafted with a mission to delight senses.’

Envol, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Envol, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

Everything abut this piece oozes class and the style ensures it stands out from the crowd. I don’t know much about the artist, but a quick trawl through Google came up with some magnificent work from this artist.

 

 

 

1401. Upfest 2017 (158)

There was so much great street art at Upfest 2017, it has been difficult to try and post ass much as I possibly can. This is a lovely piece by Hide2 which was at the Ashton Gate site, and in common with my other posts from there, the piece is not quite complete in these photographs.

Hide2, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Hide2, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

On his visit for the festival, he left a nice ‘gift’ in Wilder Street which I wrote about back in August – it seems strange to now only be posting his official Upfest piece.

Hide2, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Hide2, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

His work here is absolutely brilliant, both the portrait and writing are sensational.

Hide2, Wilder Street, Bristol, August 2017
Hide2, Wilder Street, Bristol, August 2017

1400. Upfest 2017 (157)

Last year at Upfest there were many black and white/greyscale pieces, of which this was probably one of the best that used contrast to its best advantage. The strong blacks and whites on the grey background really lift the design out from the surface, and I think this is a really accomplished piece.

Drojan, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Drojan, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

This was one of two pieces by the Drojan at the festival, and I hope I have left enough time to feature his other one in a post before Upfest 2018 catches up with me.

Drojan, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Drojan, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

I know little about the artist (there was no entry for him in the programme), but this short video made by a visitor to Upfest 2017 shows him paining this piece, in the video he reveals he is from Venezuela, emphasising the incredible international reach of this festival. Already getting very excited for July.

1399. Upfest 2017 (156)

I absolutely love this piece for many reasons. Firstly, it taps in to my love of fishing and is one of several angling-related pieces at Upfest 2017. Secondly, the cartoon style is really unusual and quirky…it has a great many similarities with the style of Bristol’s own Sepr, which in my view is a really good thing.

Mariojin, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Mariojin, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

Mariojin, the artist, comes from Milan in Italy and in the picture above it looks like there might be an element of collaboration going on.

Mariojin, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Mariojin, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

Apart from Mariojin’s fabulous website which shows off some great work, I don’t know too much about the artist beyond what is in his Programme notes for Upfest:

‘Mariojin grew up in the outskirts of Milano, where the cohabitation of different cultures offers inspiration to the first movements of the Milan writing. He develops the passion for drawing and colours since childhood, inspired at first by his aunt’s canvas, artist and teacher, and subsequently, from the garish colours, forms and dimensions of Graffiti’s world. Attracted by this world he begins to paint with sprays at the end of the 90s. He is Member of Nuclear1 crew, which organizes an important graffiti jam “Meeting of Styles” Italy since 2014. He paints using a mix of influences between illustration and graffiti.‘

1398. Upfest 2017 (155)

Andrew Burns Colwill is a great Bristol artist and one who has championed  environmental awareness vigorously in recent years, particularly with his 20:50 vision pieces. At Upfest 2017 he really excelled himself with this magnificent polar bear sitting on what at first appears to be a piece of ice, but which is actually a pick up truck floating in a sea of plastic.

Andrew Burns Colwill, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Andrew Burns Colwill, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

His ongoing commentary on the destruction of our planet, and visions of what it might look like in 2050 results in a series of haunting images, of which this is one. A prophet of what might be, if we don’t pull our fingers out and get things sorted. Andrew Burns Colwill, like many others in the environmental movement, has been talking about plastic for some time…at last it feels like the government is listening.

Andrew Burns Colwill, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Andrew Burns Colwill, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

This is one of the best pieces of the 2017 festival, and the good news I understand is that it is here to stay. The Coopers Arms pub, where this piece can be found, will be keeping it. ABC’s fine art pedigree shine through in this work and he is truly the king of murals in Bristol. I salute you.

Andrew Burns Colwill, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Andrew Burns Colwill, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

1397. Upfest 2017 (154)

Without question, watching Arladiss painting this piece was my most joyful experience at Upfest 2017. This was the second piece she worked on in South Street Park during the festival, and I was lucky enough to see her adding the final touches.

Arladiss, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Arladiss, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

The charming portrait of a child appeared to be finished, but Arladiss had other plans. The youthful joy she brings to her paintings of children is complemented with a bit of child-like fun to bring about the final touches.

Arladiss, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Arladiss, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

Arladis held a paintbrush loaded with paint and proceeded to splatter the piece with great gusto. Just watching her do this was an experience. She was so obviously enjoying applying this final touch and was beaming while she did it.

Arladiss, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Arladiss, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

Her sense of fun rubbed off on the few spectators who gathered to see what she was up to and, for a moment we all reverted to a childish state. Her sense of fun is so infectious. I love the piece, and her other Upfest piece, and am thrilled to know that she will be returning for Upfest 2018.

Arladiss, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Arladiss, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

 

1396. Upfest 2017 (153)

The boards at North Street Green are mostly set out in pairs and in portrait orientation. This means that when writing about them, one has to take them in pairs. Sometimes the pairing is wholly complementary, almost like a collaboration. In other cases the pairings are in marked contrast, and this is one of those. On the left is a feline (tiger?) face by Bristol’s J. West and on the right is a simple portrait of a girl and overwritten with colourful squiggles by Everything’s Oh-Kay.

J. West, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
J. West, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

J.West is no stranger to this blog, and I most recently featured his street savvy panda complete with ghetto blaster from The Bearpit. This blue cat, composed of geometric shapes and contrasting colours is probably the best of his work I have seen to date. I really like it.

Everything's Oh-Kay, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Everything’s Oh-Kay, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

I have not seen any of Everything’s Oh-Kay’s work before, and my first impression is that it feels very graphic designery. In fact, a great many street artists are designers and illustrators by day, taking to the walls to liberate their asrtistic talents away from a commission or customer brief. I am a little on the fence with this particular piece, and would like to see more.

1395. Upfest 2017 (152)

Following directly on from my post of Hannah Adamaszek and Saroj, here is another all female collaboration from last year’s Upfest between Kler and So Free So. Once more I feel lucky to see the work of two more artists relatively unknown to me.

Kler and So Free So, Upfest, Bristol, JUly 2017
Kler and So Free So, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

This collaboration works so well with two very different styles using similar colours to create two distinct female portraits. The portrait on the left is by Kler, from Barcelona, where she sprays on the legal walls. A former designer, she now travels widely for street art festivals. Her piece here at Upfest is a triumph.

Kler and So Free So, Upfest, Bristol, JUly 2017
Kler and So Free So, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

So Free So is a Swiss graphic designer who also does a lot of street work. She tries to convey emotions in her pieces, and the shadowy eyes and mouth in this work are part of this inner exposure. She has collaborated with Kler on several occasions, and on researching her for this post, it turns out I have seen their work before at Upfest. So Free So’s website is really well worth a look.

Kier, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Kler and So Free So, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

1394. Upfest 2017 (151)

There were many fine collaborations at Upfest last year, but few of them were finer than that between Hannah Adamasek and Saroj. I have written many times about Hannah’s work, but don’t believe I have come across Saroj before.

Hannah Adamaszek and Saroj, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Hannah Adamaszek and Saroj, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

In the Upfest programme there is a really nice profile for Saroj Patel, and rather than paraphrase it, I have decided to offer it in full:

Saroj is a designer and artist whose practice encompasses illustration, painting, graphic design, typography and art direction. Nature is a compelling part of her work which incorporates decorative arrangements of organic forms, flora, and wildlife, creating a distinctive hand drawn style which displays a fluidity of movement through the use of patterns, lines and colour.

Saroj draws inspiration from exploring the natural and built environments around her, from wandering city streets to hiking in forests and mountains, capturing moments of stillness and chaos, embracing and absorbing the beauty in every moment.
Hannah Adamaszek and Saroj, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Hannah Adamaszek and Saroj, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
I like this aquatic piece that places a swimmer in a setting of plants and fish, resulting in a rather atmospheric and fresh piece.
Hannah Adamaszek and Saroj, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Hannah Adamaszek and Saroj, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
I was lucky enough to visit this piece, which was in the beer garden of the Steam Crane, several times over the festival and it is interesting to see how it developed. I am hoping that both will return this year.