A figure of hate
I’m enemy number one
trying to keep calm.
by Scooj
Tag: UK
1978. Stokes Croft, The Carriageworks (39)
You can tell this one is from the archives, not just from the date on the caption, but because it is on the wall of the Carriageworks, which for the last several months has been behind fences and screens while the building is being demolished and reconstructed for ‘affordable’ housing.
It is a quick one by Nevla, I think the last of his that I have from a while ago. It is a nice simple cartoon character, and from the look of it he was running low on paint. Nevla’s work always has a light-hearted touch, which is refreshing really against a landscape of bile and hatred that exists in the UK at the moment.
1977. Lower Lamb Street
If you walk around Bristol enough, you can’t have failed to notice this tag decorating a great many wheelie bins in the City. This set of three is no more than a two minute walk from my office. The bins are by Sickboy, a Bristol artist who lives in London, and who first took up the spray can in the mid 1990s.
He was thought to be the first street artist to spray his large tag in this way, and the temple logo seen here is a famous one for those in the know. According to Wikipedia (and I don’t believe it for one minute) such wheelie bins have been known to fetch up to £55,000. Really? Then how come these ones are still on the street? Great to see his work about town.
Dentist appointment
Shredded to ribbons
suffering anaesthetic
cheek lacerations.
by Scooj
Caress
Pigeon pair in flight
skilfully touch wings, dancing;
lovers of the air.
by Scooj
1976. Upfest shop yard
I guess this piece by Pelmo is something of an exclusive, as it was painted on the practice wall at the back of the Upfest shop, and is therefore not on public display.
I took the picture a week or two after I had sprayed my own very first effort on this exact wall, and went back to the shop to see if it was still there. Sadly (but not unsurprisingly) my amateurish effort had been buffed over, but I was honoured that it should have been replaced by such a fine artist as Pelmo.
I don’t really know what the protocols are around publishing pictures from this wall, but on this occasion I think I’ll take the risk, mainly because I am a big fan of this artist’s work. His work often contains these, oversize and overweight people with a love and sensitivity that can be difficult to gauge without offending. Pelmo does this brilliantly. A wonderful forgotten piece.
1975. Devon Road (9)
Following my post of a fabulous Xenz piece in Shoreditch a few days ago, I was reminded about this old one on a garage door in Devon Road, Bristol. I had to trawl through my archives and was thrilled to find it… a task that might sound simpler than it is.
This is a simple piece, perfect for the garage, lifting it out of the bland and ordinary to become a thing of beauty as well as practicality. If only more of the carbuncles and eyesores of our city could be similarly transformed. There is a strong sense of calm in this painting and a connection with nature that I find uplifting. The bee eaters are beautiful too.
Northern hemisphere blues
Heard on the wireless
today’s the most depressing
of the year. Onward!
by Scooj
1974. M32 roundabout J3 (121)
You’ll know how much I try to avoid writing posts about artists I know nothing about, but sometimes the piece is just too good not to share. This is one such example. Some really classy writing, as part of a paint jam, which included all sorts of artists I am not familiar with. This piece I am guessing is by Debris.
Of course it is possible the piece is by another artist who just happens to be writing the word ‘DEBRIS’ but it is unusual for graffiti writers to stray from their preferred letters/name. There is an energy about this one that I really admire, and I love the fiery stripe running through all the letters. I’ll have to keep my eyes peeled for more from this artist.
1973. M32 roundabout J3 (120)
Readers will be in no doubt that Face 1st is one of my favourite and most featured artists in Natural Adventures. This beautiful work at the M32 roundabout features his trademark faces and some incredibly sweet elephants…without ears.
It would appear that Face 1st is not to everyone’s taste and just to the right of the piece is a throw up saying ‘Face Junk’. Well, on the upside, at least they didn’t deface (literally) his work, and the quality of the ‘protest’ simply isn’t up to much, emphasising how much better the Face 1st piece actually is. You certainly have to develop a thick skin to be in this game, but I guess you wouldn’t do it if you were too sensitive. Another work from this gentleman that I can cherish.
Natural adventures 