Tag: Street art

1319. Castlehaven Road, Camden Town (2)

When I first saw this piece, I thought I had found another Gregos mask, but I was wrong. It is a piece by Urban Solid, a street art duo from Italy. To see more of their work, take a read of this great blog by London Calling.

Urban Solid, Castlehaven Road, Camden Town, November 2017
Urban Solid, Castlehaven Road, Camden Town, November 2017

Unfortunately, I looks like the piece has been damaged, there is meant to be something in the mouth of the face, but it has been snapped off. I am a fan of this kind of 3D installation art that challenges the viewer with humour and sometimes political rhetoric. All part of the broad spectrum.

1318. Castlehaven Road, Camden Town (1)

My not-so-recent trip to Camden Town took me back to some places that I had been to on previous visits. This was a particular joy to behold. Always, seeing Dzia pieces is thrilling but to see one so perfectly worked into a wall with an existing piece is just perfect.

Dzia, Castlehaven Road, Camden Town, November 2017
Dzia, Castlehaven Road, Camden Town, November 2017

I first saw this wall, with only the Dotmaster piece in September 2016, but the additional character that the Dzia pigeon has given it works so well. I love the clever touch of the pigeon’s heart, as if it is saying I love this piece.

Dzia, Castlehaven Road, Camden Town, November 2017
Dzia, Castlehaven Road, Camden Town, November 2017

One just has to marvel at the way the lines and shapes that Dzia draws, which on their own don’t make any sense, come together to create such astonishingly lifelike creatures that appear to be animated. Such clever work from this exceptional Belgian artist.

1317. Charlotte Street (2)

The incredible Alex Lucas is pretty well known across Bristol, if not by name then by recognition of her artwork. She seems to have her work all over the place and her commissions definitely brighten up the city.

Alex Lucas, Charlotte Street, Bristol, November 2017
Alex Lucas, Charlotte Street, Bristol, November 2017

From shop fronts to indoor murals, barely a day goes by when Bristolians aren’t touched in some way by her work. This is a case in point, the Bluebird Tea Company half way up Park Street.

Alex Lucas, Charlotte Street, Bristol, November 2017
Alex Lucas, Charlotte Street, Bristol, November 2017

This isn’t some corporate makeover, but rather a beautifully bespoke design for a particular kind of outlet. It is a one-off, and a glance at the detail in the piece demonstrates this.

Alex Lucas, Charlotte Street, Bristol, November 2017
Alex Lucas, Charlotte Street, Bristol, November 2017

Is this street art? some may ask. In my view, absolutely it is. Just because it is paid-for work doesn’t make it any less legitimate. It isn’t edgy or covert, but it is representative of one end of the huge spectrum of public street/graffiti art available to all in Bristol.

1316. New Gatton Road (2)

The tree in front of this magnificent Sepr piece is always going to make photographing it difficult. A winter shot on a clear day is probably the best you are going to get, but ebven then a shadow of the tree is cast across the mural.

Sepr, New Gatton Street, Brisotl, November 2017
Sepr, New Gatton Street, Brisotl, November 2017

I took several pictures of this piece shortly after it had been started, but they were polluted by the light conditions. I am not entirely sure what this is all about other than it is yet another brilliant monkey in space suit piece. Not far from this spot there is a Zase and Dekor monkey in a space suit, and every Upfest seems to throw up one or two. It is an endearing theme, and one so excellently executed here by Sepr.

Sepr, New Gatton Street, Brisotl, November 2017
Sepr, New Gatton Street, Brisotl, November 2017

This is a deceptively large piece on a fairly irregular wall, and how well Sepr has used the space to tell a humerous story. The monkey is immediately adjacent to the beautiful turtle by Louis Masai, and there we have street art…two classics, one earnest and worthy, the other full of fun…both supreme.

 

1315. Leonard Lane (15)

Who doesn’t love Salvador Dali and especially a greyscale multi-layer stencil tucked away in a dark alleyway by John D’oh? OK, so a kind of rhetorical question designed to answer itself. This is a brilliant piece of work. A stencil artist, a surrealist and a cat…it doesn’t get much better.

John D'oh, Leonard Lane, Bristol, November 2017
John D’oh, Leonard Lane, Bristol, November 2017

In my view, John D’oh is a highly talented, prolific and perhaps slightly overlooked artist on the local scene. His pieces, small and large, simple and complex are almost taken for granted, but each is a little gem. It is so utterly worth stopping to look at and admire his work if you get a chance. I doff my cap in his general direction…wherever he is.

1314. M32 roundabout J3 (67)

I am not entirely certain, but I think this piece is by Hemper. For sure the writing spells HEMP, but it is possiblt this is a drug reference and nothing at all to do with Hemper. Whoever it is by, it is a nice bit of chrome writing set on a green and purple wall for a background.

Hemper, M32 roundabout, Bristol, December 2017
Hemper, M32 roundabout, Bristol, December 2017

Walls seem to feature a lot in street art. I suppose that along with spray cans, walls are one half of the tools of the trade. This is a nice piece that seems to have stood the test of time in a location that normally has a high turnover. Finally, who can’t agree with the statement ‘homes for all’?

1313. Jessop Underpass

I have known about this wonderful piece by Loch Ness for an age, but never managed to get near enough to photograph it. It is ever so slightly off the main drag, and too far away for me to reach it in a lunchtime walk.

Loch Ness, Jessop Underpass, Bristol, December 2017
Loch Ness, Jessop Underpass, Bristol, December 2017

It is a classy piece from this fine Bristol artist who combines colours and form to great effect. Many of his older murals feature monsters, but more recently he has worked on these wildlife-themed imaginary beings which transform from anumal into pattern and design.

Loch Ness, Jessop Underpass, Bristol, December 2017
Loch Ness, Jessop Underpass, Bristol, December 2017

I happen to think that this is a particularly fine example of his work, and really should have brought it to your attention sooner. I will try to do better.

1312. M32 roundabout J3 (66)

This is the first time I have posted any work by Corupt although I have seen tons of his stuff over the years. As a graffiti writer I think he likes to stay well under the radar, and I have only once seen him at work, and I think he quite wanted to keep a low profile.

Corupt, M32 roundabout, Bristol, January 2018
Corupt, M32 roundabout, Bristol, January 2018

I have seen a lot of his work on the walls at Dean Lane skate park and here at the M32 roundabout. It seems to me that he rather favours these high up spots, often above other works. I think the idea is that if he sprays high up, his work will be there for longer. Seems to make sense to me.

Corupt, M32 roundabout, Bristol, January 2018
Corupt, M32 roundabout, Bristol, January 2018

I must confess that I haven’t paid too much attention to his writing, although I see quite a lot of it, but am breaking that habit now with these first two works. I haven’t yet formed an opinion about his work, which all seems to conform to a particular style format.

Corupt, M32 roundabout, Bristol, January 2018
Corupt, M32 roundabout, Bristol, January 2018

Both of these are colourful works, and I will enjoy posting more and seeing how his work develops over time.

1311. M32 roundabout J3 (65)

There is a reliable consistency about the work of Soker. Always high quality and always delivered with some panache. In this piece of writing e has opted for a chrome finish on a wall background. The chrome complements the Rusk piece next to it.

Soker, M32 roundabout, Bristol, January 2018
Soker, M32 roundabout, Bristol, January 2018

There is a big thing for chrome writing, and it seems to be the colour of choice for many graffiti writers, I guess because of the impact it has. If I am honest, I’n not too sure about it, I feel it is a little over-used to achieve impacts, however what it lacks in subtlety it makes up for in clout. A nice piece of writing.

1310. Dean Lane skate park (109)

Sprayed either at the end of December or beginning of January this is another wonderful rabbit from Hire. This artist consistently churns out good work like this or his wildstyle writing throughout the year, and although I haven’t bumped into him for a while it is great to see his works making an appearance.

Hire, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2018
Hire, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2018

When I first became aware of Hire’s work, it was mostly in The Bearpit, however he seems to base himself almost entirely in Dean Lane these days. I am not sure what the writing says, but I would like to think it says something like happy new year. And would’nt you know it, I just typed ‘happy new year Polish’ into Google and it wasn’t this, so I changed Polish to Russian and guess what…I was right. Nice one Hire.