Tag: The Queen

6579. Backfields

Man-X, Backfields, Bristol, November 2024
Man-X, Backfields, Bristol, November 2024

The last stencil piece I saw by Man-X was a rather cute west highland terrier painted at the entrance to Leonard Lane, so it was somewhat surprising to see this irreverent portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II sitting on a different kind of throne.

Man-X, Backfields, Bristol, November 2024
Man-X, Backfields, Bristol, November 2024

The portrait piece is a nicely worked five or six colour stencil, set within an oval frame, and is really rather unusual in many ways. The colours incorporate gold, which I guess is in part to represent the royal setting (golden throne). There is some extra fun in the detail, with the Queen reading a magazine entitled ‘Corgi’. Edgy and offensive to some, this piece is nicely executed, on a tricky stone surface.

4593. Upfest 2022 (33)

I think I was being rather thick when I looked at this piece, and it took me quite a while to unpick what was going on. It is funny how you can look at something but not really see it, which is something I pride myself on being able to do ordinarily, but in this instance I failed.

Usedpencil, Upfest 22, Bristol, May 2022
Used Pencil, Upfest 22, Bristol, May 2022

The clever piece is by Used Pencil and is of course a portrait of HM Queen Elizabeth, although not an entirely flattering one. Upfest was held this year just before the extended bank holiday during which the nation celebrated the Queen’s platinum jubilee – I didn’t celebrate, because I was in Porto with my daughter.

This portrait is a bit like a fully painted doodle and it is very nicely executed too. Used Pencil is another artist I have never come across before and his Upfest biography reads:

I am Used Pencil, the ‘Secret Walls’ winning, mural making, illicit illustrator with walls covered and exhibitions curated in HK, Lisbon, LDN, Manchester and Iceland, to name just a few. Always starting with a pencil and paper, I like to make marks on all surfaces using fine line creative wizardry.

Nice contemporary work.

4517. Leonard Lane (35)

Back to Leonard Lane, and this special Queen’s platinum Jubilee celebration piece by John D’oh. This is another fantastically presented piece from John D’oh, who has been producing some really outstanding work lately, really stepping up a level.

John D'oh, Leonard Lane, Bristol, June 2022
John D’oh, Leonard Lane, Bristol, June 2022

This one is an irreverent glance at the Queen, with specific reference to her second son’s indiscretions and rather odd alibi, for his involvement in a sex scandal, that he had taken his daughter to a Pizza Express in Woking on the day in question. It is nice to have these little reminders of British history so perfectly illustrated through John D’oh’s stencils. I have noticed that he has stencilled this one in another of his favourite spots, and need to get over there to photograph it.

John D'oh, Leonard Lane, Bristol, June 2022
John D’oh, Leonard Lane, Bristol, June 2022

I thought I’d include a little extra piece from John D’oh, which I think is from some time ago, but is right next to the Jubilee pizza piece. Gotta love this one!

2090. Queen Charlotte Street (1)

The rewards for wandering around without a plan can be enormous, and after a long while of knowing about this piece I eventually found it quite by accident when I decided to walk down a street I rarely visit.

Tim Marsh, Queen Charlotte Street, Bristol, March 2019
Tim Marsh, Queen Charlotte Street, Bristol, March 2019

It is by the magnificent Tim Marsh, who I think lives in Barcelona, and who was a visitor to Upfest 2018. As with many artists who come to Bristol for the festival, Tim Marsh gave the city with this little ‘present’, and very kind of him to do so too. This piece looks like it might be the Queen wearing a kind of colourful Banksy mask… it could of course be something else completely. Typical of his work are the colourful geometric patterns that fill the space around his subjects. Thank you Tim.

1211. The Bearpit (111)

I have said it before recently, that John D’oh has been busy stencilling this autumn/winter, with much of his work appearing in The Bearpit. He has also done some other highly satirical Banksy tributes in Cheltenham, but I haven’t yet seen them.

John D'oh, The Bearpit, Bristol, December 2017
John D’oh, The Bearpit, Bristol, December 2017

Always edgy and often political, John D’oh’s work, more than any other artist in Bristol is a target for tagging and dogging. He is clearly not held in the same regard as other artists, but that is the way for political artists…not everyone will agree with them. The Queen stencil has had the eyes sprayed red…which possibly enhances the menace of the piece.

 

John D’oh, The Bearpit, Bristol, December 2017
John D’oh, The Bearpit, Bristol, December 2017

I apologise for the quality of the images, which were rather compromised by the low light levels…I was on my way to do some Christmas shopping and the light was fading fast. I thought I’d include them anyway.

232. North Street hoarding (3)

John D’oh is a very naughty political artist whose work I enjoy immensely, whether I agree with his assertions or not. Whenever I see his stuff I can’t help smiling at his cheeky nerve. I suspect it gets him into trouble occasionally, but I like the edge he brings to the Bristol street art scene. This time it is the turn of the Queen, a reference to the band of the same name and her position on Brexit as portrayed by some media outlets (in particular the Murdock News International Media group).

John D'oh, North Street, Bristol, May 2016
John D’oh, North Street, Bristol, May 2016

Not only is the content of his work noteworthy, but his execution using stencils and his profusion of work is impressive. I have a large backlog of his work, much of which is politically no longer contemporary, but nonetheless an indicator of political issues in 2010s Bristol.