A collection of graffiti art from the Bristol writer Soker
All photographs taken by Scooj
Soker
Tag: Street art
1703. Moon Street (53)
This is a really interesting piece by Laic217 in Moon Street for two reasons. Firstly, it is unfinished, which is quite unusual in itself and secondly it seems like it might have been a practise wall for a piece he sprayed in Dean Lane skate park a few days later (see next post).
I rather hope that the character isn’t anyone he knows, because it isn’t particularly flattering. The mouth is unfinished and in fact the first time I looked at it I thought it was graffitied by someone else and the spray can is also unfinished. I do find it a bit of a puzzle that it is incomplete, because he appears to have put in a lot of effort before giving up. Perhaps he was disturbed. Anyhow, incomplete or not, I love this piece and the idea behind it. more classy work from Laic217.
1702. The Bearpit (160)
We had a wet day in Bristol a couple of weeks back, and it looks like Object…took refuge in the tunnels of The Bearpit, and painted several of the boards there in a single session, featuring monsters and explosions.
This piece is typical of the artist with a strong undertone of politics and representation of the disadvantaged and tortured body parts of animals and people. I continue to enjoy his pieces which always seem to portray outrage and pain.
1701. Dean Lane skate park (160)
It is always nice to go to a regular haunt, in this case Dean Lane, and find something completely unexpected. It feels like getting a present or something like that and on this occasion the treat was from Cheo. I especially like this because Cheo can pretty much choose any wall he likes but will still come back to Deaner and slap up a high quality piece.
All the elements you would expect from Cheo – crystal clean lines, solid fills and clever shadows on a character brandishing a spracan all topped off with a trademark bee. A nice treat on a lunchtime walk.
1700. M32 roundabout J3 (92)
A serendipitous meeting. I had a couple of hours to race around Bristol seeking out any new works before going away on my summer holiday in mid-August, and the last port of call before packing up the car and heading for Gatwick was the M32 roundabout.
As I approached the southern wall I could see Tasha Bee at work, which in itself was very exciting because I have recently become more aware of her work and have been keen to meet the artist. I struck up a conversation with her and could see that she was contributing to a collaboration with PWA’s Soap and Face F1st. I said that I was sorry to have missed them because I would like to meet them both, whereupon she told me that they were sitting on the grass bank right behind me. Hurrah! I stopped for a chat with them all (I hope I didn’t interfere too much with their work) and Face 1st let me have a flick through his black book which felt like a real privilege.
Soap and Face F1st had pretty much finished their pieces and were watching on and advising Tasha Bee as she completed hers. I love the way that the cross motif has been shared by Soap and FF, and I am seriously enjoying the full figure work that the latter is producing at the moment. The girl with the face is emerging and coming to life.
Sadly I never got to see the the finished piece which got buffed over within a few days, but I thoroughly enjoyed the experience of meeting three lovely artists and seeing them at work. We’ll meet again…
1699. Dean Lane skate park (159)
A fabulous piece by one of Bristol’s finest graffiti writers, with a little addition by 3Dom, who seems to be rather busy on the streets just now. I got rather lucky with this piece, because I saw Soker just as he was sketching the piece out, over the top of a Mr Draws piece I had come to look at. I then had to go, and took a break for a week away on holiday. Luckily the piece was fully intact and untouched when I got back – respect to those taggers who decided to leave this one alone.
Soker is on something of a roll this summer, and his work appears to be as popular as ever. I posted his Simpsons Upfest piece on my Instagram account and it received more likes than any other piece I have ever posted by a factor of about 3.
I love the colour selections he has made for this piece, the blue and purple contrasting brilliantly with the chrome writing. There is so much to like here, and even if you are not a fan of burners and writing, surely this must generate some excitement – the quality shines through.
The whole thing is capped off briliantly by the addition of a face to the letter ‘O’ by 3Dom, bringing the whole thing alive and giving it incredible personality. The face almost looks like a transfer that has been rubbed onto the writing. A quality collaboration. Bravo.
1698. St Werburghs tunnel (39)
Well, who might this gothic wildstyle writing be by? There is a clue in the writing, but it is so cryptic that you probably need to know what you are looking for to be able to see it. The writing says HIRE, and it is indeed the work of this naturalised Bristolian of Polish origin.
His work is so distinctive, with its long, sharp and jagged lines – his pieces always remind me of medieval battle scenes, with swords, axes and lances crashing in all directions – maybe that is just me, but I say what I see. I am really pleased with the picture above, because the light in the tunnel plays havoc with my camera and the poor lighting in the tunnel meets with bright light outside where this piece is situated. Nice work from Hire.
1697. St Werburghs tunnel (38)
Hurrah, it is great to find one of Laic217’s distorted face pieces, it feels like an absolute age since I last saw one, he has mostly been spraying skeletons and skulls of late, so this is a welcome return.
This is one of a pair of pieces sprayed side by side in St Werburghs tunnel in early August by the artist, and of the two I would say I slightly prefer it although both are excellent. I really do like his work, and for as long as he keeps putting them out there, I will continue to photograph them and write about them…if I find them. Those eyes!
1696. The Bearpit (159)
Although he specialises in cats and dogs, Daz Cat also occasionally produces these somewhat surreal pieces that contain his styling and preferred colours and so are unmistakably his work.
I’m not too sure what is happening here – monsters or mutant cats or dogs…who knows? for me there is a ‘War of the Worlds’ thing happening here, but I think that is probably my fertile imagination extrapolating the piece a little too far. Fun work from Daz Cat.
1695. Albert Park (4)
Without doubt, this is one of the most difficult walls in Bristol to photograph. I think I have only ever passed by once when there hasn’t been a car parked in front of it, so rather than wait for hell to freeze over I decided to give it my best shot…I think I might have got away with it (just).
The fabulous wildstyle writing is by 3Dom – you can make out the letters – and is a complex and colourful piece. I think it might have been painted at the same time as Feek’s most recent camel which adjoins this wall. 3Dom is one of only a handful of writers in Bristol who produces separate writing and street art works, both equally high quality. A great wall, but seriously in need of a couple of extra yellow lines.
Natural adventures 