It’s the excitement
checking snow reports daily
skiing on my mind.
by Scooj
Tag: UK
1972. M32 roundabout J3 (119)
There are not enough great words to describe the work of Sled One. One after another he turns out the most incredible pieces that explode with colour and imagination. I have noticed that often his compositions are amalgamations of bits of ideas that all come together to create a magnificent whole.
This piece is quite extraordinary, pulling together bird parts to form a bird skull/head stuffed with leaves and plants. Another bird wing and beak juts out of the back of the head – I am not sure what is happening there.
The whole piece, although adorned with a cartoon smile and glint in the eyes, also for me has a darker side, but I can’t put my finger on why that might be. Even his signature is classy, a pink neon moniker a la Voyder. So Good.
1971. Shoreditch, London (23)
I thoroughly enjoy acquainting myself with the work of artists new to me, and becoming familiar with and knowledgable about their work. Of course, it takes time to do this, but that is what I like spending time doing.
Sten and Oli came into my consciousness during my visit to Shoreditch last November. In some small areas, it became difficult not to find some of their charming creations, mostly pasted at knee height, and all little characters of varying kinds.
These three little critters seem to come from the family of long-eared creations – most endearing, but also with a bit of a dark side to their personas. They remind me a little bit of the gremlins in the movie who could switch from cute to bad boys in an instant on contact with water.
I surely love these wheatpastes, they have real class and a collectability about them. I managed to bag a few on my trip, but know there are many more out there to find. Of course, what really needs to happen is for Sten and Oli to make a trip down to Bristol… always welcome here.
Star struck
As a young(ish) man
and she then a young woman
I pondered upon
possibilities beyond
my station. Out of my league.
by Scooj
1970. Shoreditch, London (22)
Wow, wow, wow. Fancy having an enormous portrait of Salvador Dali painted outside your premises. I mean, this is just amazing work from the wonderful Zabou. Everything about this piece is in my mind perfect… the subject, the monochrome face, the dazzling leopard spot design jacket, the melting watch. This is a masterful piece and Salvador himself would I’m sure be smiling down on Zabou.
For me, this is what it’s all about, what I do and why I do it. Wandering around the streets without any plan and chancing upon things I didn’t know were there. A voyage of discovery and pleasant surprises. Finding this was a highlight of my sauntering around Shoreditch last November.
1969. Shoreditch, London (21)
Now living and working in London, Xenz used to live in Bristol and there are plenty of his pieces documented in Natural Adventures, and more to come. This is the first of his works that I have seen outside Bristol and it is a bit of a cracker.
These boards are really fabulous and a magnet for some seriously classy street art. This piece showcases one of Xenz’s favoured themes, a sort of futuristic ruin scene set against moody skies.
Of course none of his works are complete without some little birds, these look like bee eaters to me. Dramatic and fantastical work.
Blitz
War-shattered buildings
stitched together combining
old and new. Bristol.
by Scooj
1968. Shoreditch, London (20)
Aah, another fabulous piece by Nether410. As a tourist in these parts, I know little of the piece other than what is on Nether410’s Instagram feed. He says the portrait is of Carol Burns of Bacon Street and that this is the site of her and her father’s business.
This is an amazing portrait, unsentimental in its portrayal of the subject. There is a story being told here as well, with the key and the keyhole, but I don’t know what it is about. A fine piece.
1967. Shoreditch, London (19)
Quickly skipping back to November last year, the next few posts will feature pieces I saw on a mini excursion to Shoreditch in London, kicking off with this incredible piece by Mr Cenz. I have seen a lot of his work over the last year or two, but only a few in the flesh, and the pictures rarely do them justice. His style pretty much always incorporates a female portrait composed of swirling vibrant shades of colour, which when you think about it, shouldn’t really work, but oh my goodness, work they do!
A piece like this is just so magnificent and elevates the building it is painted on from being ordinary to being extraordinary. I would surely love to see him visit Bristol.
Life
If there’s a reason
then surely days like today
in part explain it.
by Scooj
Natural adventures 