Tag: UK

1291. Bristol, various

I don’t often post work by people I don’t know and I rarely write about taggers, so this might come as a bit of a rare surprise. I have seen tags by this graffiti doodler all over Bristol, and love the simple style and expressions – I have pictures of dozens of tags.

Unknown tagger, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2018
Unknown tagger, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2018

What was special about these three tags is that they all seemed to appear in one night in different parts of the city, each on a route that I took at some time the following day. Of course the tagger might have sprayed other ones that weren’t on my usual beat, but obviously they had a busy night.

Unknown tagger, Prince Street, Bristol, December 2018
Unknown tagger, Prince Street, Bristol, December 2018

Generally I am not particularly interested in tags, other than that I can identify a few of them, but there is something more to these ones. Not so much tags as little characters. All three have since been painted over.

1290. Small Street (1)

On my walks to Leonard Lane in the city centre, the walks I really enjoy, I usually come face to face with this hairdresser’s shop as I get spat out of the lane and into Small Street. Every time I go there I forget to take a picture, but not this time.

Mr Penfold, Small Street, Bristol, January 2018
Mr Penfold, Small Street, Bristol, January 2018

The shop front is by Bristol designer Mr Penfold, who does quite a few design commissions in and around the city. Every now and again he also does a street art piece, but that seems to be a bit of a rarity these days. This is typical of his modern, fresh design work and certainly brings some colour to this rather unexceptional frontage.

Cats and dogs

 

Canine: dependent

the feline: indifferent

it’s what defines them.

 

by Scooj

1289. Raleigh Road, vector (21)

Well here we have a fine piece from RAW’s Smak in Raleigh Road. His wildstyle writing realy is out of the top drawer and this work really showcases his skill. set on a blue background, which was probably prepped for this paintjam, his subtle blue lettering is lifted by the yellow and red accents and of course by the cheeky mushroom skull character.

Smak, Raleigh Road, Bristol, January 2018
Smak, Raleigh Road, Bristol, January 2018

I fear that this set of pieces may be some of the last at this site, which has hosted some remarkable work over the last 18 months or so, but the building work is nearing completion and it will not be long before the hoardings come down. We need some new sites to make up for it.

Crying

 

Sleet sprinkles my face

the cold flakes melt on warm cheeks;

tears accumulate.

 

by Scooj

Clearing

 

Tension in the air

from a misunderstanding

dissipates with time.

 

by Scooj

Thursday doors

Door 17

Redcliffe cave gate, Bristol
Redcliffe cave gate, Bristol

This is a door designed to keep prying eyes out, rather than to welcome visitors in. It is one of the entrances to the Redcliffe Caves, which form a central part in Bristol’s history as an international trading port.

I, along with many others, believed this cave to be a place where slaves were incarcerated, a folklore of the city which is quite untrue. Rather it was used as a store for merchandise and has in more recent times been used as a waste dump.

Redcliffe cave gate, Plaque, Bristol
Redcliffe cave gate, Plaque, Bristol

The area is steeped in history and above the gate this plaque, donated by the Bristol Civic Society, describes some of the features of Redcliffe. I have to say I find the plaque a little sycophantic and more about past and present businesses than abiout heritage…but maybe that is just me and I think I am being a bit harsh.

Certainly this doorway contains mystery and elicits curiosity.

by Scooj

 

Thursday Doors – Norm 2.0

 

1285. Dean Lane skate park (107)

I met Rusk the day before he sprayed this magnificent piece in Dean Lane, while he was prepping the wall with black emulsion. We chewed the fat for quite a while, mostly talking about the street art scene in Bristol and some of the things that go on. He told me that he would be spraying the wall with a couple of friends the next day, I think it was a Saturday, and this is the result. I will post the other pieces in time, but felt I should do this one first.

Rusk, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2018
Rusk, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2018

As always with Rusk’s pieces, a lot of care and thought has been put into this. It has lovely clean lines and the gradient of colours from top to bottom is skilfully done. Definitely one of my favourite writers in Bristol, and one who makes time to talk about his and other people’s work. A nice piece.

1284. Jubilee Street (5)

I don’t get over to Jubilee Street all that often, but managed to get there recently whilst shopping for a chandelier in Gardener Haskins, a nearby and completely bonkers department store.

Soker, Jubilee Street, Bristol, January 2017
Soker, Jubilee Street, Bristol, January 2017

This is a super piece by Soker that sits in a bit of a backwater and probably doesn’t get seen all that much, apart from by the children in the adjacent school. The walls here are very much dominated by ASK members, in particular Deamze, and tend to remain unchanged for long periods of time. Visiting only occasuionally doesn’t seem to matter too much in this spot.

Flowerpot snowdrift

 

Winter wonderland

on a Liliputian scale;

the best Bristol gets.

 

by Scooj