Tag: Street art

614. Anchor Road (2)

Well this is the one really, a very very special piece by Andrew Burns Colwill.

In a modest setting behind the Harbourside shops and restaurants stands a container. Painted on the side of the container is one of the best pieces of free street art in Bristol. It is amazing. I have watched as people shuffle past it without looking and then someone will glance at it and recognise what a magnificent work it is. Certainly one of my favourite pieces in Bristol…ever.

Andrew Burns Colwill, Anchor Road, Bristol, January 2017
Andrew Burns Colwill, Anchor Road, Bristol, January 2017

There is an elaborate story unfolding in this picture. In the middle we have two figures sitting at an hourglass table playing a game of chess. One is a modern/future man, the other on the left looks to be ancient Mayan or something like that clutching a scroll. There are remnants of a bridge behind them one side built of wood the other of stone, representing the eras these two characters come from, maybe.

Andrew Burns Colwill, Anchor Road, Bristol, January 2017
Andrew Burns Colwill, Anchor Road, Bristol, January 2017

Then if we zoom out a little we see more of their surroundings. Above them, floating in the air lifted by balloons with faces, is an island with a city – what it represents I am not sure, but some similar motifs were portrayed in Colwill’s Upfest piece from last year. To the right, the ruined stone bridge can be seen in its full glory, and a bomb shell is sticking out of the ground. To the left the bridge becomes closer to its environmental beginnings…more organic, and there are flowers in the foreground.

Andrew Burns Colwill, Anchor Road, Bristol, January 2017
Andrew Burns Colwill, Anchor Road, Bristol, January 2017

Taking another look to the right we observe evidence of civilisation in the form of a stone city on the hill, married with weapons of destruction.

Andrew Burns Colwill, Anchor Road, Bristol, January 2017
Andrew Burns Colwill, Anchor Road, Bristol, January 2017

Further to the right still, soldiers are emerging from a war torn forest – looking like a scene from the Great War.

Andrew Burns Colwill, Anchor Road, Bristol, January 2017
Andrew Burns Colwill, Anchor Road, Bristol, January 2017

To the left hand side we can see pyramids through the mist in the distance, so maybe the red-robed character is ancient Egyptian. On this side too, there are more figures, tribesmen wielding spears lurk in the trees.

Andrew Burns Colwill, Anchor Road, Bristol, January 2017
Andrew Burns Colwill, Anchor Road, Bristol, January 2017

The whole piece would be a fine addition to any art gallery, but here it is for all to see if only they would look. I believe the picture to be about the struggle between the environment and our close connection to it and the consequences of progress. Now I am no expert and I haven’t had the pleasure of talking to Colwill so my description and conclusion are based on what I see. What do you see? Have you looked?

612. The Bearpit (37)

Back to the Bearpit and some recent work by ObjectØØØ. As always his very individual style carries with it so much emotion and passion combined with political statement. The figures in his work always feel distorted and tortured by struggle against inequity.

Object000, The Bearpit, Bristol, January 2017
Object000, The Bearpit, Bristol, January 2017

This piece is located at the end of the tunnel where the artificial light meets the daylight, and it is really hard to get a decent photograph, but I have done my best. I like to feature ObjectØØØ’s work whenever I find it because I am fascinated by how much the artist invests himself in his work.

Object000, The Bearpit, Bristol, January 2017
Object000, The Bearpit, Bristol, January 2017

The commentary is a little ambiguous, but I think I know what he is getting at. Great to see some new work from this unusual street artist.

611. Code Street, Shoreditch (2)

The light was fading fast by the time I got to this wall. Had I known of its existence I would probably have tried to get to it earlier and benefit from better light. One of the pitfalls of wandering around aimlessly I suppose. All the pictures have been adjusted to make them less gloomy, but they really don’t convey the magnificence of this collaboration.

Fanakapan and Louis Masai, Code Street, Shoreditch, August 2016
Fanakapan and Louis Masai, Code Street, Shoreditch, August 2016

Louis Masai and Fanakapan, two of the best street artists in the UK right now, collaborated to paint this wall as part of the Meeting of Styles, London event in May 2016.

Fanakapan and Louis Masai, Code Street, Shoreditch, August 2016
Fanakapan and Louis Masai, Code Street, Shoreditch, August 2016

The patchwork style of Louis Masai and the helium balloon chrome style of Fanakapan work surprisingly well together and when the subject matter is wildlife conservation, what it there not to like about this piece?

Fanakapan and Louis Masai, Code Street, Shoreditch, August 2016
Fanakapan and Louis Masai, Code Street, Shoreditch, August 2016

There is a very good piece by London Calling which shows the collaboration at work, in rather sunnier conditions than when I went to visit, which is well worth a gander.

Fanakapan and Louis Masai, Code Street, Shoreditch, August 2016
Fanakapan and Louis Masai, Code Street, Shoreditch, August 2016

The theme for the event was ‘absolute freedom’ and this piece is entitled ‘Freedom?’. This was a pure joy for me at the end of a very long walk in Shoreditch…the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Fanakapan and Louis Masai, Code Street, Shoreditch, August 2016
Fanakapan and Louis Masai, Code Street, Shoreditch, August 2016
Fanakapan and Louis Masai, Code Street, Shoreditch, August 2016
Fanakapan and Louis Masai, Code Street, Shoreditch, August 2016

610. Code Street, Shoreditch (1)

In my wanderings through the streets and alleyways of Shoreditch it was comforting to come across a familiar sight. So much of the artwork was unknown to me and then this…a piece by Bristol graffiti artist Voyder. All of a sudden I felt quite at home and rather pleased with myself that I could identify an artist in the heart of London’s graffitiland.

 

Voyder, Code Street, Shoreditch, August 2016
Voyder, Code Street, Shoreditch, August 2016

I have to say though that I don’t think it is his best work, and not a patch on the stuff he has bee producing in the last few months (in my view). This wall was produced for the Meeting of Styles festival June, 2016. The photographs are a bit dodgy because the daylight was fading, and my crappy little camera was fussing about the light levels. I think I just about got away with it.

Voyder, Code Street, Shoreditch, August 2016
Voyder, Code Street, Shoreditch, August 2016

609. Cheshire Street, Shoreditch (1)

Street artists are like busses…nothing for ages and then two come along together. This is a small piece by Fin DAC tucked away in Shoreditch and when I took the photograph I didn’t know who it was by. Then, recently I posted a piece by him from Bristol’s Upfest and I recalled this picture and can post it now.

Fin DAC, Cheshire Street, Shoreditch, August 2016
Fin DAC, Cheshire Street, Shoreditch, August 2016

The two pieces are very different, and the Shoreditch one is more typical of the Geisha that one normally associates with the artist. In both instances though it is the painted eye mask that gives away the artist’s identity – his signature if you like. At the time I took this I thought it was worth a snap. It was a good decision.

608.Sclater Street, Shoreditch (1)

I am enjoying my journey into the world of street/graffiti art and learning about the talented artists who brighten up our urban environments. Not so long ago, I didn’t know about Himbad and images of his work just sat in my archive waiting for a positive ID. Now I know who he is and can recognise his work – that is a good thing.

Himbad, Sclater Street, Shoreditch, August 2016
Himbad, Sclater Street, Shoreditch, August 2016

This piece is rather large and very impressive when looking down the street at it. If you are wondering how it was painted, there is a great explanation on the London Calling blog which has images of the artist in progress. All done with rollers and a very long pole! This is a wonderful piece, full of character.

607. Rivington Street, Shoreditch (5)

Just to mix things up a bit, I am going to write a few posts about some street art I photographed last Summer/Autumn when I was working two days a week in London. I thought I’d start with this rather eye-catching piece from Thierry Noir at the East end of Rivington Street in the archway by Cargo.

Thierry Noir, Rivington Street, Shoreditch, August 2016
Thierry Noir, Rivington Street, Shoreditch, August 2016

Thierry Noir’s pieces are simple and colourful, almost falling into the category of ‘well I could probably do that’ art. Well I probably couldn’t and the idea and style are his and he executes them brilliantly. The more of his work that I see, the more I like it.

606. Unity Street (3)

This is a piece going back to June 2016 by the excellent Epok. I thought I had already posted it, but it turns out that I am both forgetful and wrong…very human and real traits for a gent of my age.

Epok, Unity Street, Bristol, June 2016
Epok, Unity Street, Bristol, June 2016

As always Epok stamps his singular style on any wall he sprays – great colour selection and crisp clear geometric lines and shapes creating a whole that is very pleasing. Always spelling out the letters EPOK which once you get your eye in can clearly be seen. It is always good to see work from this ASK member and there is more to come here soon.

605. The Bearpit (36)

A few days back, there was something of a graffiti art fest in The Bearpit, and many of the vacant tagged spots were given a makeover, several artists spraying more than one piece during the event.

Mr Klue, The Bearpit, Bristol, January 2017
Mr Klue, The Bearpit, Bristol, January 2017

This great abstract piece is by the extremely busy Mr Klue and draws the viewer into the mind of the artist – where are those steps leading? A nice quick one from a fine Bristol artist.

604. Wilder Street (12)

Lately it appears that Laic217 has dedicated a huge amount of time to his street art, with pieces popping up all over the place. I am really pleased to see it since I have a soft-spot for his work. Rather excitingly he has just started an Instagram account, which will make it easier to track down his pieces, however there is no biography and he continues to keep himself to himself.

Laic217, Wilder Street, Bristol, January 2017
Laic217, Wilder Street, Bristol, January 2017

His works tend to take two forms, the wildstyle writing or burner with a character incorporated, or an image like this one, often demonstrating some kind of distortion…melting or in this example cracked glass (frequently there is a nod to drugs and acid-house music). All the time his work is improving, his concepts developing and the artwork becoming more skilled.

Laic217, Wilder Street, Bristol, January 2017
Laic217, Wilder Street, Bristol, January 2017

I think Laic217 tends to spray solo, and unusually for a Bristol graffiti artist, will work in any of the common sites north and south of the river. I am not certain that he belongs to any crew, and I am not aware of any collaborations to date. I am enjoying the journey watching his work unfold. And hey…anyone notice the Feoflip to the left?