This is one of the slightly more bonkers pieces from Upfest this year. Surreal and vivid, it absolutely makes me smile every time I look at it. Unfortunately I never got to see the finished work, but I was pleased to get some pictures of the artist at work.
Wheatpastes somehow lend themselves not only to bold political statements, but also to quirkiness and humour. I first encountered ‘Face The Strange’ at Upfest 2016 with his rather imaginative flying human ducks.
The basic technique adopted by Face The Stange, is to take every day objects and superimpose them onto the face of people, creating a rather unsettling and surreal effect. It is more than that though…as I have said many times one of the arts of wheatpasting is location and arrangement. In this aspect Face The Strange excels.
The other thing about paste ups is that they are rarely commissions, and therefore kind of illegal, which gives them an extra edge. This is my kind of stuff.
This mural recently (Nov/Dec 2015) appeared on the frequently renewed wall at the carriageworks in Stokes Croft.
It is one of the more unusual works I have seen in the area. Surreal, and beautifully sprayed. It is outstanding.
It appears to me signed by Miller, or Millen or something like that, but I have drawn a blank on any information about the artist. If anyone knows who it might be, please let me know and I will update the post.
As with all works here, it will be gone soon, sprayed over by another artist, so I am glad to have captured this curiosity.
UPDATE – after some more research I have discovered that the artist is Tom Miller, a recent graduate of the University West of England. He has produced some wild prints and I am very tempted to buy one.
7/10
Natural adventures 