7274. Cumberland Basin

Totosoapcity, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2025
Totosoapcity, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2025

By now, regular readers will be getting quite familiar with the distinctive ARS(Z)A letters from Totosoapcity. This is a recent piece from the artist in one of his favoured spots, Cumberland Basin.

Totosoapcity, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2025
Totosoapcity, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2025

The letter shapes of Totosoapcity’s pieces remain broadly the same, so it is the decoration that we can focus on. In this piece, the skilful application of greys provide a metallic look to the piece which jumps out from the wall thanks to the stripy drop shadow. This symmetrical piece is assisted in its regular shape thanks to the indented lines on the wall, which so many writers make use of to keep proportions true. A nice piece.

7246. Frome Side (60)

Totosoapcity, Frome Side, Bristol, September 2025
Totosoapcity, Frome Side, Bristol, September 2025

Frome Side, as I like to call it, is a spot that runs underneath a stretch of the M32. The concrete walls are on either side of the canalised River Frome, and crossing from one side to the other is perilous to say the least, across slender concrete slabs, about 2ft wide without a handrail. I tend to remain on the east bank, where the access is, and photograph the west bank from there, looking across the river. This piece from Totosoapcity was on the far west bank.

Totosoapcity, Frome Side, Bristol, September 2025
Totosoapcity, Frome Side, Bristol, September 2025

Totosoapcity has a unique and easy to recognise letter style which tends to remain pretty much as standard from piece to piece, and it is the decoration and fill that provides variation. The letters ARS(Z)A have a symmetry about them, and are filled with an unusual selection of colours in a radiating geometric pattern. The background is decorated with what looks like piles of rocks. Interesting stuff from Totosoapcity.

7206. Frome Side (55)

Totosoapcity, Frome Side, Bristol, September 2025
Totosoapcity, Frome Side, Bristol, September 2025

Totosoapcity is one of those graffiti writers whose letter shapes remain broadly constant and whose magic happens with his colour selections and patterns. The letters ARSA or ARZA have a symmetry about them, which really establishes Totosoapcity’s ‘brand’ or presence.

Totosoapcity, Frome Side, Bristol, September 2025
Totosoapcity, Frome Side, Bristol, September 2025

The letters are given depth with the 3D drop shadow in red and white stripes, and further uplifted by the four ‘starbursts’ whose contribution should never be underestimated. The colour scheme has a bit of a confection feel to it, maybe trifle or rhubarb and custard chews. An all-round nice piece from Totosoapcity.

7055. Cumberland Basin

Totosoapcity, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, July 2024
Totosoapcity, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, July 2024

Every once in a while I take a trip through my archives and spot pieces that I failed to post first time round, and give them a second chance. This is a piece by Totosoapcity from a year ago, July 2024, before I knew his name, which is why I probably didn’t post it then.

Totosoapcity, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, July 2024
Totosoapcity, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, July 2024

All of Totosoapcity’s pieces are instantly recognisable, because of the shape of his letters, which is quite unique, and doesn’t seem to deviate too much from piece to piece. I think the letters spell ARSA, with the ‘S’ reversed. In this piece he has gone form the trusty pink and blue combination with a cream and red striped drop shadow and red border with decorations. Decent, unusual and distinctive writing. Watch this space for more of his work from my archives.

7028. Sparke Evans Park (135)

Totosoapcity, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, June 2025
Totosoapcity, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, June 2025

What is a little peculiar is that if I look back through my archives I would probably find half a dozen or so pieces by Totosoapcity, but it is only recently, once I found out the artist’s name, that I have actually started to post his distinctive writing.

Totosoapcity, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, June 2025
Totosoapcity, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, June 2025

There is a symmetry to Totosoapcity’s writing, and I am never too sure what the letters spell, but I think it is ARSA. There are some good blues, pinks and purples in the piece with a deep 3D drop shadow vanishing in the centre, below the wall. There are a few decorative circles filling and breaking up the white space around the background. A nice piece. I will have to trawl through my archives and dig out some old ones.

6882. Cumberland Basin

Totosoapcity, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, April 2025
Totosoapcity, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, April 2025

I have seen quite a few pieces by Totosoapcity in Bristol before, but hadn’t known who the artist was, so haven’t posted them. This could mark the opening of a little floodgate for when I do some digging in my archives, which I like to do from time to time. I’m not sure that Totosoapcity is from Bristol, but must be reasonably local I would think, because we see visits every few months.

Totosoapcity, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, April 2025
Totosoapcity, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, April 2025

This piece is part of a large collaboration from a group of artists I am not too familiar with, but who have done a great job on this wall, selecting a themed colour approach to all their writing. I think the letters here spell ARS(Z)A, and have a pleasing symmetry to them. The red, pink, black, brown, yellow and orange colours are not my favourite combinations, but work reasonably well – not sure about the pink. They do, however, contrast perfectly with the themed grey banner background, which is consistent through the entire collaboration.