Sirens is an artist that I have only recently come across, and I have to say that on both occasions I have met him, I really enjoyed our conversations and what he has to say about his art.
Sirens, The Bearpit, Bristol, April 2017
His work is on the fine art side of the spectrum, and it is possible to see that there might be numerous influences in his work. This piece, again of an industrial environment is in one of the tunnels of The Bearpit, and offers both a depressing scene, and also an uplifting one in the single work. I like his style, and believe he is still developing, so I await further appearances and opportunities to chat.
Right next to the recent Georgie artist stencil ‘citizen of nowhere’ in The Bearpit steps (see previous post), is this magnificent Kid Crayon piece. I cannot tell you how much I love this. It has colour, humour, craziness and a blue face. Something about it reminds me of an upbeat Gaugin crossed with Picasso…know what I mean? With a touch of Jean de Brunhoff (creator of Barbar the elephant).
Kid Crayon, The Bearpit, Bristol, April 2017
It is so raw and so good. I will stop there for fear of gushing too much. I like it…you got it?
Kid Crayon, The Bearpit, Bristol, April 2017
It is with some disappointment that I am updating this post to report that this and many other great pieces in The Bearpit and elsewhere in Bristol have been tagged and dogged at the end of the Easter break. It is annoying when this happens. I think everyone accepts that it does happen, but it does seem really senseless and damages the reputation of street art and graffiti art in the City.
As far as I can make out, it was Georgie (artist) who organised The Bearpit ‘paint jam’ on 8 April, and I managed to catch up with her for a few minutes while she was starting work on this fabulous ‘citizen of nowhere’ piece. She told me that she was negotiating with Bristol City Council to try and create some ‘legal walls’ where street artists could create their works without constantly having to keep an eye out for the authorities. Georgie suggested that legal walls would also encourage new artists to try their hand and see what they could do, without fear of arrest. My view is that this would be a good thing, but I will always have a soft spot for the edgy illegal stuff…it all starts there.
Georgie, The Bearpit, Bristol, April 2017
This is a brilliant stencil piece containing part of a Theresa May quote “if you believe you’re a citizen of the world, you’re a citizen of nowhere”. I think this piece demonstrates clearly what utter nonsense the Prime Minister comes out with. Ghastly, ghastly May.
Georgie, The Bearpit, Bristol, April 2017
I enjoyed meeting Georgie, she seems to be a real mover and shaker in the street art scene in Bristol, well organised, galvanised and talented. I love this piece (I can’t believe that less than 24 hours after completion it was tagged) which contrasts in style with her recent freestyle Michael Caine piece. All good.
The ‘paint Jam’ organised on 8 April coincided with a beautiful and sunny Spring day. Unfortunately, there were not as many artists as one might have hoped for, but it was all a bit last-minute, so any turn out was good.
Sirens, The Bearpit, Bristol, April 2017
I came across an artist I had not met before, but whose work has recently been creeping onto my radar…Sirens. I stopped and chatted for a while with this really interesting artist, who likes to grab people’s attention in places where they least expect it. He has been working with painting on plastic sheeting suspended between trees in local woodlands, drawing attention to his ideas in unusual places.
Sirens, The Bearpit, Bristol, April 2017
Much of his work contains an environmental theme and messages, contrasting beauty with urban landscapes. This piece ‘head for hope’ reminds me a little of the scene in the Terry Gilliam film ‘Brazil’ where the car drives along a road with high walls, beyond which is beautiful countryside. Look out for more from Sirens here.
A stunning piece by Decay for the ‘paint Jam’ on the 8 April, organised by Georgie and advertised at very short notice through social media. This is a favourite wall for Decay, and he has had several other pieces here before.
Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, April 2017
I was fortunate enough to be there while he was just finishing off the piece. I love the way the young boy is looking back at his work. So very few people stop to take a look (such a British behaviour) perhaps for fear of interrupting the artist, or worse still striking up a conversation.
Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, April 2017
All the very best features of a Decay piece are here: the abstract form of concentric rays emanating from a central face. The piece is directly adjacent to a large pink work I featured by Decay not so very long ago.
Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, April 2017
He is a busy man, and shortly after completing this piece he drifted over to Wilder street to do a piece on the nicely prepped walls…to follow in a little while.
I think I saw my first piece by Dice 67 in almost this exact spot in the north tunnel of The Bearpit a couple of years back. His stencil work is really first class and his subject matter always intriguing.
Dice 67, The Bearpit, Bristol, March 2017
I believe the girl featured in this piece is his daughter, who often appears in his works. I love his stencil work, the layers all come together so seamlessly. The attitude of this piece is fantastic. I hope he comes back to Upfest this year, he will be most welcome.
I include these pieces by Mr Draws, because they represent a strong reference point for the role street/graffiti art play in social commentary. In Bristol, and I imagine in cities all over the World, we face changes to our local communities happening at a rate faster than ever before. Globalisation and the advent of the Interweb have driven change, and along with the ‘progress’ this affords us, it also brings with it casualties.
Mr Draws, The Bearpit, Bristol, March 2017
The Bearpit sits at the end of the A38 (Cheltenham Road/Stokes Croft/Gloucester Road), which is famed for being one of the longest continuous ‘independent’ high streets in Britain. This is a claim that is disputable since a number of supermarket chains and coffee shops have moved in. As independent shops have struggled with the economic downturn, their premises have been bought up by supermarket ‘local’ outlets and by global coffee chains. It is this ‘changing of the guard’ that vexes so many citizens, particularly in a fiercely independent part of a fiercely independent city.
Mr Draws, The Bearpit, Bristol, March 2017
As for the works themselves, these are quick pieces from an artist normally associated with his stylised mountains. I like this political twist to his work which is becoming more and more creative as time goes on.
A week wouldn’t feel like a week without posting a piece by Laic217, and his productivity shown no signs of slowing down.
Laic217, The Bearpit, Bristol, March 2017
This piece is from about a month ago and was situated on the West underpass into The Bearpit. Several of Laic217’s favourite motifs are present in this work;the bucket hat, an alien, weed, smileys and a face distorted, this time in watery reflections. A nice piece from the master of freehand graffiti art.
A little while back I posted a piece by Skor85 – it was of a dog on a cloud, and there was some discussion as to what animal it actually was. This piece is by the same artist and in almost exactly the same spot but it carries quite a different message.
Skor85, The Bearpit, Bristol, March 2017
I am not too sure what the piece is articulating in the line ‘what are you proud of’ nor am I clear what the brick hand holding the earth is about. Clearly full of symbolism, there is a good story here somewhere. It would be nice to know a little more.
I love the passionate and political messages contained in the works of Object∅∅∅. In this piece, which sadly only lasted a few days, he seems to be having a swipe at those who eradicate or remove street art with their ‘anti-graff’ paint. I guess his target is Bristol City Council, although I can’t be sure.
Object000, The Bearpit, Bristol, March 2017
I like the plastic bag containing ObjectØØØ’s spray cans – there is something really functional and worthy about keeping your paints in an old plastic bag – it is beautifully painted too.
Natural adventures 