Tag: The Bearpit

1552. The Bearpit (150)

One of the nice things about ‘coming out’ about discovering a new artist is that you can trawl through all your old images and start to post some of their older work, and so it is with Daz Cat whose pieces I have only been posting for the last two or three months.

Daz Cat, The Bearpit, Bristol, November 2017
Daz Cat, The Bearpit, Bristol, November 2017

This great cat face in one of The Bearpit tunnels is from November last year and is a really good example of the work of this artist. I always feel that his work is quite simple, but take a closer look and there is a lot of detail and finessing in there. This is a great example of themed work and a distinctive style.

1523. The Bearpit (150)

Object…is tireless in his campaigning to keep The Bearpit open as an available space for all…including artists. It seems that Bristol City Council are determined to clamp down on the amount of spraying that goes on in the Bearpit, and new graffiti is routinely painted over, leaving an ugly landscape of patchwork walls where the paint doesn’t quite match. Also, by painting blank walls, the Council are simply inviting the less savoury elements of the graffiti scene to make their mark with tags and throw ups.

Object...,The Bearpit, Bristol, May 2018
Object…,The Bearpit, Bristol, May 2018

This piece contains a quote from Tom Flemming Creative Consultancy, who I assume have been doing some work for BCC. It is a nice quote and one that I can relate to. The messy and the marginal – it works for me. The artwork from Object… is actually really good and contains many things I associate with the artist – feathers and wings joined to slightly contorted hand and of course the strong political message. I like the #BearpitIsBeautiful too. I doff my cap to Object… whose passion drive him and others forward.

1522. The Bearpit (149)

Once again I am introducing an artist new to these pages…I don’t know how I’m going to keep up with only two posts a day. Some good work may never see the light of day. This fine abstract piece is by Bristol-based artist Run Z, and it is one of two that I hve spotted in Bristol. I have not been aware of his work before and I think he is reasonably new to the scene.

Run Z, The Bearpit, Bristol, May 2018
Run Z, The Bearpit, Bristol, May 2018

There aren’t too many abstract artists on the streets of Bristol, so Run Z is among the elite group that includes Mr Klue and Decay, both of whose work I admire. This piece uses complementary colours in organic swirls, creating an overall effect that is rather pleasing to the eye. If you look close up, it is all a bit raw, but step back and it makes sense. Nice to see something a bit different.

1514. The Bearpit (148)

What a lovely piece in The Bearpit from Tasha Bee, who not so long ago painted in collaboration with Hazard in St Werburghs tunnel. I know little about her or her work, but she is very much on my radar at the moment. I think she has recently been collaborating with PWA, in particular Face 1st.

Tasha Bee, The Bearpit, Bristol, May 2018
Tasha Bee, The Bearpit, Bristol, May 2018

This is a beautiful impish character full of colour and vigour. It is something quite different from the usual fare in The Bearpit and all the better for it. Everything that I have seen from Tasha Bee I like, so I am definitelty going to try and track down more of her work.

1504. The Bearpit (147)

Going back a little way, this piece was created as part of the Spring paint jam in The Bearpit. Giraffiti (loving that) is by the Graft Workshop, an organisation which to my shame I was unaware of, that run graffiti workshops and paint murals in the Bristol area. Graft Workshop are Rob, Sophie and Collette, and I am sure to be finding out more about them in future.

Graft Workshop, The Bearpit, Bristol, April 2018
Graft Workshop, The Bearpit, Bristol, April 2018

The giraffe itself is nicely worked, but I especially like the writing on the bottom right. The main theme of the paint jam is reflected in the piece, with the message don’t bomb Syria – which dates the piece very specifically.

1495. The Bearpit (146)

Another intriguing wheatpaste from the fantastic Object…, in one of the tunnels of The Bearpit. In this piece, Object… has written a lengthy statement which is wrapped around what looks like a sumo wrestler with a pi symbol tattooed on his chest.

Object..., The Bearpit, Bristol, May 2018
Object…, The Bearpit, Bristol, May 2018

Now I haven’t been able to read the text…that might take a bit of time…and so I’m not too sure what the piece is about, but knowing the artist, I expect politics is involved somewhere along the line. I actually am rather fond of this piece, and am really enjoying Object…’s current penchant for paste ups.

1483. The Bearpit (145)

So, here he is once again, this time making an appearance in one of the tunnels of The Bearpit. This toucan, by Touc, really is one of the cheeriest graffiti characters in town and I would suggest you have a cold heart if you aren’t the tiniest bit captivated by him.

Touc, The Bearpit, Bristol, February 2018
Touc, The Bearpit, Bristol, February 2018

I don’t know what HATOUCAN means…is it a toucan sneeze? My supply of Touc finds is drying up a little, so you might not see him for a little while – until then…farewell.

1478. The Bearpit (144)

In recent months I have become aware of a tag appearing all over the place, that is better than your average tag, and of course being a fish it gets my seal of approval. I have no idea who it is by, but I think they might belong to DBK crew, as those letters are never too far away.

Unknown fish tag, The Bearpit, Bristol, May 2018
Unknown fish tag, The Bearpit, Bristol, May 2018

The first of four tags was in The Bearpit not too long ago. Lots of drug references here.

Unknown fish tag, Bristol, May 2018
Unknown fish tag, Bristol, May 2018

I am not too sure what the letters spell, but to me it looks like ‘SOA’ and then I guess it is possible that the tail fin is also a letter.

Unknown fish tag, Anchor Road, Bristol, May 2018
Unknown fish tag, Anchor Road, Bristol, May 2018

As with all tags, the graffiti artist has got the consistency down to a T and can probably run one off pretty swiftly.

Unknown fish tag, Armada Place, Bristol, May 2018
Unknown fish tag, Armada Place, Bristol, May 2018

As I am writing this, It occurs to me that the whole thing says SOAK, and that the fish tail does form a letter, the letter K. Soak is a graffiti artist in Bristol who I featured not too long ago. It all makes sense now.

1477. The Bearpit (143)

Well this pasteup is a little out of the ordinary, and not something I would immediately associate with Object…, but it is a reasonably recent piece from this Bristol (Stokes Croft) based artist which appeared with one or two others in The Bearpit.

Object..., The Bearpit, Bristol, May 2018
Object…, The Bearpit, Bristol, May 2018

I would probably not like to delve too deeply into what is going on here, frankly it all looks a little bit scary. Regulars will know that I love a good wheatpaste, and this one certainly stands out with its arresting subject and exaggerated features. And what large teeth you have grandma…

1460. The Bearpit (142)

I have said it many times, it is always a real pleasure when artists from out of town come to Bristol and leave us a gift, and what a gift this was from London artist Tommy Fiendish.

Tommy Fiendish, The Bearpit, Bristol, March 2018
Tommy Fiendish, The Bearpit, Bristol, March 2018

I don’t know too much about the artist other than that he is at art college in London and he enjoys Hip Hop. I did however find this brilliant post on his Instagram feed which I highly recommend taking a look at – it features this piece and the throw up that went over the top of it. What a way to fight back!

Tommy Fiendish, The Bearpit, Bristol, March 2018
Tommy Fiendish, The Bearpit, Bristol, March 2018

A highly detailed and technically strong piece, it was most eyecatching and on the morning I was photographing it, it had really attracted quite a crowd of admirers. Welcome back anytime.