Tag: Upfest

1026. North Street (A38) (2)

I don’t know how many days these pieces had been up before I noticed them, but they are another gift to the city of Bristol from a visiting artist who was here for Upfest. Dabuten Tronko is from Tarragona in Spain, which I found out from his ‘couchsurfing’ profile. The Interweb is an incredible thing!

Dabuten Tronko, North Street (A38), Bristol, August 2017
Dabuten Tronko, North Street (A38), Bristol, August 2017

These pieces can be found either side of the main road on the vertical walls of the 5102 building overlooking The Bearpit. They are something of a before and after reflection and need to be seen in conjunction to hold any real meaning.

Dabuten Tronko, North Street (A38), Bristol, August 2017
Dabuten Tronko, North Street (A38), Bristol, August 2017

The boats on the left hand side of the road (heading North) are intact and jolly, while in stark contrast, those opposite are smashed up or deconstructed. I’m not sure what it all means, but I like the concept going on here.

Dabuten Tronko, North Street (A38), Bristol, August 2017
Dabuten Tronko, North Street (A38), Bristol, August 2017

The colour scheme is quite subtle and sort of blends in with the background blue. The boats somehow feel like they have always been there or were always meant to be there. I’ll bet I’m not the first person to have missed them first time round.

1022. Upfest 2017 (55)

I am always chuffed when I see pieces by Bristol artists at Upfest. The street/graffiti art scene here is so strong and it is great for the city to showcase its own artists to visitors from Bristol itself and from further afield.

Sled One, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Sled One, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

Sled One, I have said countless times on Natural Adventures, is one of my favourite street artists and was very busy at Upfest, producing two pieces in South Street Park. I caught up with him for a while and asked him how it was that he doesn’t do so much street work these days. It turns out, and I think I knew this anyway, that he is now working with the Paintsmiths and doing a lot of commissioned work. This he says adds pressure on his free time. He also said it was a different way of doing things and that working to a brief can be quite stressful.

This wonderful piece is creative and utterly bonkers. I do like reptiles in street art, somehow they work so very well. The expression on the chameleon’s face is well observed, and the eye is excellent. Hope to see more of his stuff before too long. Perhaps those nice people at The Paintsmiths could give him some time off.

1021. Upfest 2017 (54)

One of the most distinctive collaborations of Upfest 2017 was this piece by Tymon Ferenc de Laat (who really needs a shorter tag) and Nuno Viegas. The piece was sprayed in the garden of The Spotted Cow pub and has subsequently been sold.

Tymon Ferenc de Laat and Nuno Viegas, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Tymon Ferenc de Laat and Nuno Viegas, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

It has a high-quality finish to it and works really well as a collaboration with the particular style of each artist – the portrait by Tymon and the paper dart by Nuno – retained in the piece.

Tymon Ferenc de Laat and Nuno Viegas, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Tymon Ferenc de Laat and Nuno Viegas, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

I particularly like the amazing attention to detail in the paper dart, with the shadows cast, and the bright line along the leading edge of the wing as if it were catching the light. Very clever and skilful work.

Tymon Ferenc de Laat and Nuno Viegas, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Tymon Ferenc de Laat and Nuno Viegas, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

I’m not sure how often these artists collaborate, but for Upfest it worked a real treat.

1020. Upfest 2017 (53)

Half way along North Street you will find Exmoor Street, with a lovely white wall, perfect for a bit of spraying. Wen2, from Brest in France, was one of two artists fortunate enough to be allocated this space.

Wen2, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Wen2, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

This piece is beautifully thought out and generates an understanding of buildings and place. It is almost like one of those children’s books that deconstructs structures and shows you what goes on behind the scenes.

Wen2, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Wen2, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

I particularly like a couple of things about Wen2 at work herte. He has been most conscientious about the street sign, coveuring it up with paper and masking tape. He has also ‘borrowed’ a chair from somewhere to use as a small step ladder. Resourceful.

Wen2, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Wen2, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

Wen2 used a plan to create his piece which gives you a feel for what he was creating. It is interesting that he vchanged some of the colours around. What I really like, and is something he has done with other pieces (check out his Facebook page) is his signature in the style of a throw up on the garage doors. Brilliant!

Wen2, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Wen2, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

Another special piece for Upfest 2017.

 

1019. Upfest 2017 (52)

This work simply made me laugh. It is by the artist Pelmo, whose piece from Upfest 2016 passed me by, which is highly regrettable. I’m not entirely convinced that this was painted on the first two days of the festival, either that or I am losing my touch and missed it.

Pelmo, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Pelmo, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

I love the understated tones used for the piece and the story is there for all to see. It is a witty piece, which would appear to draw some influence from the Gary Larson cartoon style.

Pelmo, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Pelmo, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

About himself, the artist says this in the programme profile:

‘I love painting a good character, a dramatic expression or a body beaten into shape by a little too much life. I generate my ideas by sketching in pubs and paint mostly for fun with the occasional commission.’

Sounds like a good life to me.

1018. Upfest 2017 (51)

Well this one was a little off the beaten track, only by a hundred meters or so, but enough for many visitors to Upfest to have missed it. In fact, I missed it until a friend told me about it, and I went to investigate for myself.

Mr June, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Mr June, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

Mr June, who had a premium wall at Upfest 2016, came back this year to create this architectural masterpiece, turning a fairly ordinary flat into something out of the ordinary…exceptional even.

Mr June, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Mr June, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

Smyth Lane has rarely been such a desirable location, demonstrating what a bit of unbelieveably cool spraying can do for a place. The clever straight line 3D effect created on the front of the building is perfectly offset by the more organic shapes that are on the walls of the tunnel. A watery theme disrupts the hard edges and ripples appear to disperse across the piece. While on the other side, water droplets bound by surface tension, sit on designed planes that have an Escher feel to them. And the greens…just beautiful.

Mr June, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Mr June, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

Mr June is a highly accomplished artist and this piece really has to go straight into the top ten for this year’s festival…and to think I nearly missed it. I wonder if other local residents will be offering up their properties for a makeover next year.

Mr June, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Mr June, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

 

 

1012. Upfest 2017 (50)

Well, I have clocked up my first 50 Upfest 2017 pieces, and we are only in September – maybe I’ll get everything posted before next year’s festival, although I doubt it – there is just so much street/graffiti art happening in Bristol at the moment.

This was the brilliant official Upfest piece by Caro Pepe and Age Age, which was in the covered section of the Tobacco Factory car park, which given the weather over the three days was probably something of a blessing.

Caro Pepe and Age Age, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Caro Pepe and Age Age, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

These two artists have collaborated many times, and really seem to enjoy working together. At last year’s festival they had adjacent spots and created separate works, however it seems that since then they have worked together much more.

Caro Pepe and Age Age, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Caro Pepe and Age Age, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

Working in soft mauves and browns, the two artists have combined the distinctive portraits of Caro Pepe with the elements of function and machinery that Age Age specialises in. The blend works well and I can see why they like to combine their styles. I am not sure, but I think the final version below was tampered with over the eye. It is possible that this was part of the original work, but Caro Pepe’s ‘blind’ eyes don’t usually have a patch like this.

Caro Pepe and Age Age, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Caro Pepe and Age Age, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

As well as this wonderful piece, the pair worked on another wall and a shutter during their short stay in Bristol, which is a real bonus. Both of these to follow.

1011. Upfest 2017 (49)

Mazzi C is an artist whose plain speaking and informative Upfest biography profile tells us that she is inspired by natural organic forms and Oriental art. Mazzie C, from Cornwall (my favourite place) goes on to say that she finds the juxtoposition of natural themes and street art using sprays and inks interesting. Her work is driven by dialetics of nature and urban culture. Well mine too – welcome to Natural Adventures.

Mazzie C, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Mazzie C, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

This small work is subtle and engaging (I want to use the word charming, but it always sounds so patronising). There are several things going on here – the beautiful bird set amongst triangles and stencilled flower patterns, the swirling folds are also really well crafted, almost as if the whole thing is made of cloth. Now I just need to see some of this work on walls!

1010. Upfest 2017 (48)

One of the truly outstanding and memorable pieces of Upfest 2017 was this extraordinary image of an infant holding a spray can. The artist, Mon Devane, comes from the city of Ourense in Galicia, Spain.

Mon Devane, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Mon Devane, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

Taking a look at his website, you can see that he has  a strong and recognisable style, using a monochrome style on vibrant backgrounds. There is nothing subtle about his pieces, they are bold statements, and beautifully crafted.

Mon Devane, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Mon Devane, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

I do like it when street artists incorporate a spray can into their art, like the old masters including a paint pallette – the tools of their trade. I think that this might have been one of the most popular pieces from the Ashton Gate wall (although there were so many great pieces there), simply because of its instant impact.

1009. Upfest 2017 (47)

Life can be funny sometimes, and every now and again we are surprised.

Last year I wrote a post about a lovely piece by Beep Monkey at the Ashton Gate School site, and until the Summer, I had heard nothing more about the artist. Then, during a casual chat at work with one of my colleagues (of several years) we meandered onto the subject of street art. She was not aware that I blogged about street art in Bristol and I most certainly didn’t know that her husband was Beep Monkey. Curious how we navigate our way through life, and then occasionally have these serendipitous moments.

Beep Monkey, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Beep Monkey, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

So armed with new insight into Beep Monkey, I was able to seek out his piece in North Street Green and understand a little bit about what inspired it. I believe that his daughters might have given him a rather big steer for this piece – a prancing pink unicorn being the central character.

Beep Monkey, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Beep Monkey, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

Of course, there is a slightly subversive element to this piece, again, I think a steer from children, which is that the unicorn is indeed farting a rainbow – but of course, didn’t you know that that is what pink unicorn farts look like?

Beep Monkey, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Beep Monkey, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

The Unicorn might have been the ‘commissioned’ element, but I am rather more attracted to the yellow character riding on its back and which was in last year’s piece. Is this the Beep Monkey? Fine stuff once again, and who knows, if he is here for Upfest 2018, I might just get even more insight.