We are connected,
you and I, through another’s
love of Africa.
by Scooj
Tag: UK
97. Nine Tree Hill (2)
A fabulous protest piece by one of my favourite artists – Sepr.
Bristol is a city with a history of rioting…perhaps it is something to do with our independent spirit (I say this as a Londoner who now calls Bristol home).
In 2011 there were riots in Stokes Croft that were focused on the unpopular new Tesco Local store. Arrests were made in the squat opposite, as some of the squatters were suspected of planning to petrol bomb the store. This caused outrage among some locals and some imported trouble makers. This link is a report from the time and this one from a year later.
Sepr’s piece is a reminder of those times and characteristic of the independent spirit of the People’s Republic of Stokes Croft. I love the artwork and its political overtones.
8/10
Mamie
At the world’s end we
shall meet again my dear. I
have missed you so much.
by Scooj
96. Park Row (3)
Before I started looking at graffiti and street art, and by that I mean really started looking at it, I had been aware of this colourful shop front in Park Row. The artwork is so appropriate for the shop, which is not always how commissions turn out.
This is a commissioned piece for a shop, called Shark Bite, that sells surf, snow and skate boards. Once again Silent Hobo is responsible in this collaboration with Mr. Riks who often works with SH. Both artists are Bristol-based.
7/10
Bright
Blind from the sun’s kiss,
a sweet inconvenience
of Winter’s orbit.
by Scooj
95. New John Street (2)
I took this picture on a sunny day back in September 2015. This wall is a collaboration between Soker and Cheo, each with their own distinct style. Soker and his wildstyle burner and Cheo spraying a cartoon and the signature bee.
I would guess that Cheo’s work is a selfie of the two of them, but this is only a guess.
7/10
Mysterious soup
Mysterious soup
frothing for billenia,
thanks for making me.
by Scooj
94. Upper Maudlin Street
I was given a wonderful ‘Banksy’ wall calendar by my mother this Christmas. I noticed that this fabulous image of the Queen has been selected for the month of July. The manufacturers of the calendar are not the only people to have falsely attributed this stencil to Banksy. In July 2012, during the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, all the newspapers heralded this artwork as a new ‘Banksy’.
The stencil was actually sprayed by IncWel, is called ‘Still Sane’ and is a direct reference to Bowie’s ‘Alladin Sane’ album cover of 1974. I have not been able to find anything else by IncWel, and there is little information on the Interweb about him.
For so many reasons I love this stencil.
9/10
The truth about child rearing
Making pancakes for
breakfast is ultimately
so unrewarding.
by Scooj
93. Moon Street (3)
I took a short walk this morning after breakfast and discovered a whole ton of street art and graffiti in Moon Street near Stokes Croft. The problem with most of the works here is that they are unsigned, or by artists/sprayers unknown to me (so far).
This crocodile is by Sesk, but I am unclear about whether Sesk is an individual or a crew. In the course of my research however, I did find this article in the Bristol Post from November 2015, which indicates that the authorities are clamping down a bit on some taggers, of which Sesk appears to be the ‘ace of spades’.
Some copy from the article reads as follows:
“A police crackdown on graffiti tagging across Bristol will see a man appear at court.
The man has been reported to court for 89 separate offences of Criminal damage across central Bristol.
The damage relates to illegal graffiti that has been sprayed, drawn and painted onto public and private property across the city.
It is alleged the man is responsible for the “SESK” tag, which police say is one of the most prolific in the city.”
None of this though has helped me find out more about Sesk.
Natural adventures 