Tag: UK

964. Bond Street (1)

When Cheo and Soker get together, you can be sure you will be in for a treat, and so it is with this fabulous piece on Bond Street, as you drive out of Bristol city centre. The building that this Aardman piece appears on I think has been ‘repurposed’ recently, and this artwork may have coincided with that.


Previously the wall played host to a few throw ups and tags. Now we have a very large Wallace and Gromit by Cheo, atop a wonderful ‘Bristol’ from Soker. I’m not sure what the Duke at the to right refers to, and I have been a bit lazy about finding out more about this piece, which I presume is a commission or if not, permitted by the wall owner.


Since it went up, the piece has been partially obscured from the road by a tree in full leaf. Come the Autumn and Winter, many more people will become aware of it from the road as they pass by. This piece somehow represents the USP of Bristol in my eyes. Progressive animation and street art, a great match.

963. Dean Lane skate park (72)

This is the first time I have seen a rabbit and writing from Hire sprayed together at the same time. I think Hire likes to hang out at Dean Lane, as most of his recent pieces have been there. At first I wasn’t too sure that the writing was by Hire, because he usually spells out his name, but the style is his.


At first I wasn’t at all sure what the writing said, but there is a small clue at the bottom of the piece where it says ‘Anna’. Looking back up at the writing, it then becomes obvious. Is this an expression of admiration I wonder?


The rabbit is fantastic as I would expect, I do like his rabbits and am building up quite a collection of them. As a whole, the wall comes across as two discreet pieces, which is often how collaborations work, where two artists will spray together using the same paints, but there is no read-across from one to the other. I like this collaboration with himself.

962. Jamaica Street (11)

This wonderful group of radioactive deer is another ceramic delight from Chinagirl Tile that was left here on the eve of Upfest. I have said it many times before, but one of the biggest pleasures of Upfest for me is seeing an influx of new work from ‘out of town’ artists refreshing areas all over the city.


Chinagirl Tile told me about these deer at Upfest, and she said that the orange radioactive symbols on the deer rumps matched the wall, which was good fortune rather than design.


As always from her work we have an uneasy edge between nature and humanity. Radioactive deer are threatening, where deer are endearing. The galloping movement instills a feeling of panic or fear. In my view this is a very powerful piece.


Unfortunately some scoundrels had already tagged this piece by the time I got to it with blue markings on the deer faces. Annoying, but fortunately not so destructive that the piece is ruined. This is a ‘must see’ piece for anyone visiting Bristol.

Bakery

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In the morning chill

fathers in holiday shorts

queue up for croissants

content in the knowledge that

their families aren’t up yet. 

.

by Scooj. 

961. Armada Place (11)

There are some well-worn hoardings in Armada Place which appear to be a favourite site for Thelochnessmonster. In my experience, much of what goes up here tends to get tagged or dogged pretty quickly, so it is always nice to get a complete piece.

Thelochnessmonster, Armada Place, Bristol, August 2017
Thelochnessmonster, Armada Place, Bristol, August 2017

Please don’t ask me what is going on in this piece, it looks complicated, but I think there is a protest behind it all somewhere. On his Instagram feed Thelochnessmonster labels the picture ‘back 2 basics’, which is a bit cryptic for those not in the know.

The use of so few colours works really well for this piece and he manages to blend characters with abstract shapes and squiggles with skill. I like the piece…it leaves me wanting to know more.

960. Wilder Street (18)

This is another little post-Upfest ‘gift’ this time from Hide2 in the Stokes Croft area of Bristol. It is one of three pieces on Wilder street, the others being from Aintzane Crucet and Deamze, courtesy of the curated wall from Where the Wall.

Hide2, Wilder Street, Bristol, August 2017
Hide2, Wilder Street, Bristol, August 2017

This is not Hide2’s Upfest piece, which will be posted in due course, but it is nonetheless a wonderful work of wildstyle writing and of a really high standard. The colour choices are excellent and definition and shadows in his lettering is highly accomplished.

Hide2 is based in Malaga, Spain and I highly recommend a quick look at his Instagram feed. All good.

R.O.Y.G.B.I.V.

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On the horizon

hugging the ocean surface

a modest rainbow.

.

by Scooj

959. Upfest 2017 (25)

Bristol really does love its foxes, so to see one appear as part of Upfest is always very welcome. This beautiful piece is by Bex Glover, a contemporary artist and illustrator who runs a freelance illustration and graphic design practice in Bristol.

Bex Glover, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Bex Glover, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

From a viewers perspective, there are so many things to look at in this work. Glover’s illustration skills are clear to see and the abstract backdrop brings the fox into sharp focus. A nice touch in the haunches of the fox hints at a yin yang symbol. The fox looks wily, just as it should and ready to move off at the slightest disturbance.

Bex Glover, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Bex Glover, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

This is a calming piece with superb colour selection which may have gone unnoticed by many visitors as it is just off the main road and set back just a little. Last year this spot was occupied by a wonderful stencil by DinDin.

Din Din, Lime Road, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Din Din, Lime Road, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

958. Upfest 2017 (24)

One of the stars of Upfest 2017, and quite rightly so, was Dzia. This incredible artist has been brightening up streets all over the world with his beautifully drawn/sprayed animals with a style so unique and recognisable. We have been lucky enough to get this robin.

Dzia, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Dzia, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

On the face of it, his pieces are constructed with lines, almost like doodles that, when brought together, create a magnificent whole. The pieces he creates look like they have come out of an A4 sketchpad and yet they are scaled-up significantly and work just as well. There is often a lot of white space in his work, but again this works in his favour.

Dzia, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Dzia, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

This wall had been reserved for Inkie, but for whatever reason he didn’t fill the space, so Dzia got an extra wall and Bristol got this magnificent robin. This was actually his second piece and supplementary to his main piece which is at the Red Point climbing centre. I still haven’t gone there to photograph it yet, but when I do I will be posting it here.

I feel like it is a real privilege to have one of his pieces in Bristol, but to get two is simply being spoilt.

957. Upfest 2017 (23)

Stefania Gala is an Italian tattoo artist who has only recently turned her talent to street art. Her first piece I think was from earlier this year and shows what a future she can have in street art should she wish to follow it up.

Stefania Gala, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Stefania Gala, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

In the Biography notes of the Upfest programme, she says ‘Recently I had the opportunity to paint my first wall in an abandoned place and I had the great joy of being able to express myself artistically in a place to be revalued. In order to get rid of the ‘canvas’ and to give my artwork to others, unconditionally.’ I like that sentiment very much.

Stefania Gala, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Stefania Gala, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

This piece for Upfest is really beautiful and captivating and interestingly does not look like a tattoo piece reworked…she is creating something special in its own right as street art. It is a clever piece, using a 3D effect to place the subject in the box really skilfully.

I hope she spends more time on her street art and comes back to Bristol for next year’s Upfest.