2908. Shoreditch, London

The last of this sequence of five pieces from a trip to Shoreditch in November 2018 is this magnificent dorway work by Stik (who else). The simplicity of his work tells stories far greater than many more complex pieces and certainly backs up the saying ‘less is more’.

Stik, Shoreditch, London, November 2018
Stik, Shoreditch, London, November 2018

There is something very human about these two stick figures and although the only features they have are eyes, we understand what the piece is saying and for that alone it should be admired. Stik has hit upon a style that taps into our core senses and feelings at the most basic level and elicits emotions in ways that sophisticated pieces sometimes fail to do. I love this.

2907. Shoreditch, London

I’m not entirely certain that this wonderful piece by Zabou is strictly speaking in Shoreditch, but it was certainly on the way on a very long walk I took back in November 2018. It is on Kingsland Road on the wall of the By the Bridge café beside the Regent’s Canal, I think the area is called Haggerston.

Zabou, Shoreditch, London, November 2018
Zabou, Shoreditch, London, November 2018

Zabou’s protrait pieces are rarely matched by anyone in both scale and quality, she really is a street artist at the top of her game, and finding her work is always such an exciting thrill. I think the piece was painted in April 2018 and features the model Yara Shahidi. Beautiful.

Pekoe

A gallery of beautiful and colourful faces from Bristol’s Pekoe, member of the RBF crew.

Instagram: @sneakpekoe

All photographs by Scooj

Pekoe, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, July 2023
Pekoe, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, July 2023
Pekoe, St Werburghs, Bristol, May 2023
Pekoe, St Werburghs, Bristol, May 2023
Pekoe, M32 Spot, Bristol, May 2023
Pekoe, M32 Spot, Bristol, May 2023
Pekoe, Greenbank, Bristol, May 2023
Pekoe, Greenbank, Bristol, May 2023
Pekoe, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2023
Pekoe, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2023
Pekoe, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, April 2023
Pekoe, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, April 2023
Pekoe, Brunel Way, Bristol, March 2023
Pekoe, Brunel Way, Bristol, March 2023
Pekoe, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, February 2023
Pekoe, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, February 2023
Pekoe, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, February 2023
Pekoe, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, February 2023
Pekoe, Elton Street, Bristol, December 2022
Pekoe, Elton Street, Bristol, December 2022
Pekoe, Upfest 22, Bristol, May 2022
Pekoe, Upfest 22, Bristol, May 2022
Pekoe, St Werburghs, Bristol, November 2022
Pekoe, St Werburghs, Bristol, November 2022
Pekoe, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2022
Pekoe, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2022
Pekoe, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2022
Pekoe, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2022
Pekoe, Greenbank, Bristol, April 2022
Pekoe, Greenbank, Bristol, April 2022
Pekoe, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, April 2022
Pekoe, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, April 2022
Pekoe, Brunel Way, Bristol, April 2022
Pekoe, Brunel Way, Bristol, April 2022
Pekoe, Stokes Croft, Bristol, March 2022
Pekoe, Stokes Croft, Bristol, March 2022
Pekoe, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2022
Pekoe, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2022
Pekoe, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, January 2022
Pekoe, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, January 2022
Pekoe, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2021
Pekoe, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2021
Pekoe, Elton Road, Bristol, December 2021
Pekoe, Elton Road, Bristol, December 2021
Pekoe, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, November 2021
Pekoe, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, November 2021
Pekoe, Brunel Way, Bristol, September 2021
Pekoe, Brunel Way, Bristol, September 2021
Pekoe, M32 roundabout ,Bristol, October 2021
Pekoe, M32 roundabout ,Bristol, October 2021
Pekoe, Purdown Battery, Bristol, October 2021
Pekoe, Purdown Battery, Bristol, October 2021
Pekoe, Brunel Way, Bristol, August 2021
Pekoe, Brunel Way, Bristol, August 2021
The cat came back and Pekoe, St Werburghs, Bristol, July 2021
The cat came back and Pekoe, St Werburghs, Bristol, July 2021
Pekoe, Greenbank, Bristol, June 2021
Pekoe, Greenbank, Bristol, June 2021
Pekoe, M32 Spot, Bristol, June 2021
Pekoe, M32 Spot, Bristol, June 2021
Pekoe, Brunel Way, Bristol, May 2021
Pekoe, Brunel Way, Bristol, May 2021
Pekoe, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2021
Pekoe, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2021
Pekoe, Brunel Way, Bristol, May 2021
Pekoe, Brunel Way, Bristol, May 2021
Pekoe, St Werburghs, Bristol, March 2021
Pekoe, St Werburghs, Bristol, March 2021
Pekoe, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, April 2021
Pekoe, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, April 2021
Pekoe, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2021
Pekoe, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2021
Pekoe, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2021
Pekoe, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2021
Pekoe, Greenbank, Bristol, April 2021
Pekoe, Greenbank, Bristol, April 2021
Pekoe, Dean Lane, Bristol, March 2021
Pekoe, Dean Lane, Bristol, March 2021
Pekoe, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2021
Pekoe, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2021
Pekoe, M32 Spot, Bristol, March 2021
Pekoe, M32 Spot, Bristol, March 2021
Pekoe, Montpelier Park, Bristol, January 2021
Pekoe, Montpelier Park, Bristol, January 2021
Pekoe, St Werburghs, Bristol, January 2021
Pekoe, St Werburghs, Bristol, January 2021
Pekoe, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2020
Pekoe, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2020
Pekoe, M32 cycle path, Bristol, November 2020
Pekoe, M32 cycle path, Bristol, November 2020
Pekoe, Ashley Road, Bristol, December 2020
Pekoe, Ashley Road, Bristol, December 2020
Pekoe, Brunel Way, Bristol, December 2020
Pekoe, Brunel Way, Bristol, December 2020
Pekoe, M32 Spot, Bristol, November 2020
Pekoe, M32 Spot, Bristol, November 2020
Pekoe, St Werburghs, Bristol, November 2020
Pekoe, St Werburghs, Bristol, November 2020
Pekoe, Paint festival, Cheltenham, September 2020
Pekoe, Paint festival, Cheltenham, September 2020
Pekoe, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2020
Pekoe, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2020
Pekoe, M32 cycle path, Bristol, July 2020
Pekoe, M32 cycle path, Bristol, July 2020
Pekoe, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2020
Pekoe, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2020
Pekoe, Brunel Way, Bristol, June 2020
Pekoe, Brunel Way, Bristol, June 2020
Pekoe, Stokes Croft, Bristol, April 2020
Pekoe, Stokes Croft, Bristol, April 2020
Pekoe, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2020
Pekoe, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2020
Pekoe, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2020
Pekoe, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2020
Pekoe, Hepburn Road, Bristol, January 2020
Pekoe, Hepburn Road, Bristol, January 2020
Pekoe, M32 cycle path, Bristol, January 2020
Pekoe, M32 cycle path, Bristol, January 2020
Pekoe, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2019
Pekoe, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2019
Pekoe, Brunel Way bridge, Bristol, August 2019
Pekoe, Brunel Way bridge, Bristol, August 2019
Pekoe, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2019
Pekoe, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2019
Pekoe, Hepburn Road, Bristol, July 2019
Pekoe, Hepburn Road, Bristol, July 2019
Pekoe, Wilder Street, Bristol, July 2019
Pekoe, Wilder Street, Bristol, July 2019
Pekoe, Brunel Way Bridge, Bristol, June 2019
Pekoe, Brunel Way Bridge, Bristol, June 2019
Pekoe and Mr Sleven, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2019
Pekoe and Mr Sleven, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2019
Pekoe, St Werburghs, Bristol, August 2018
Pekoe, St Werburghs, Bristol, August 2018
Pekoe, Stokes Croft, Bristol, January 2018
Pekoe, Stokes Croft, Bristol, January 2018
Pekoe, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Pekoe, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Pekoe, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Pekoe, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Pekoe, Brunel Way bridge, Bristol, June 2018
Pekoe, Brunel Way bridge, Bristol, June 2018
Pekoe, M32 roundabout, Bristol, May 2018
Pekoe, M32 roundabout, Bristol, May 2018

2906. Shoreditch, London

Another piece from Shoreditch in November 2018, this time in the distinctive guise of Osch. Part of his yellow circle series, this one adopts his ribbon work with a map of central London and a smiley face, although the Thames mouth is a little crooked.

Osch, Shoreditch, London, November 2018
Osch, Shoreditch, London, November 2018

Finding pieces like this by Osch is always a complete pleasure and because of their distinctiveness, they feel like a ‘collectable’ series. I have found a few before, but not living in London I guess each one discovered is very special indeed. I may have posted this one before, but I think it was in a different place. How is that even possible?.

Osch, Shoreditch, London, November 2018
Osch, Shoreditch, London, November 2018
Osch, the Stables, Camden Town, September 2016
Osch, the Stables, Camden Town, September 2016
Osch, Brick Lane, London, August 2016
Osch, Brick Lane, London, August 2016
Osch, Old Street, London, August 2016
Osch, Old Street, London, August 2016

2905. Shoreditch, London

Continuing with a trip I took to Shoreditch, London back in November 2018 when I was lucky enough to come across this magnificent and rather dark halloween (I presume) fox by Irony at the Allen Gardens spot.

Irony, Shoreditch, London, November 2018
Irony, Shoreditch, London, November 2018

Irony’s work is nearly always breathtaking and I have yet to see a ‘dud’ from this artist. This chilling scene is of a fox (and possibly several other creatures of the night) clutching a severed arm in its mouth the hand of which is holding a hot dog. It is clever how the whole atmospheric piece has been achieved using only a few green, brown and black tones. Weird and wonderful.

2904. Shoreditch, London

Street art posts in Natural Adventures are dominated by Bristol artists, I know and understand the culture (a little) in the city and feel comfortable writing about the art I see. The same cannot be said for other places. I tend to hold back on writing too much about the work I see on my trips outside Bristol because there are other chroniclers who do it so much better with so much more knowledge. Most of the photographs I take in London never get posted, but the break in new art in Bristol imposed by lock down means that I can visit my London archives and share some nice art with you.

Mr Cenz, Shoreditch, London, November 2018
Mr Cenz, Shoreditch, London, November 2018

This is a gorgeous piece by Mr Cenz in Shorditch that I photographed in November 2018, and I have a feeling that it was still pretty fresh and clean and probably not that old. Everything you expect to see from a Mr Cenz piece is here and it is absolutely stunning. It would be great if he could pay us a visit in Bristol some time – we’d have to find him a good wall though.

2903. Star and Garter (5)

When I find pieces by Tasha Bee in my archive it only reinforces my sadness that it has been quite some while since I last saw a new piece by her. She has been busy with other projects, but I hope her absence from the street art scene is only temporary.

Tasha Bee, Star and Garter, Bristol, November 2018
Tasha Bee, Star and Garter, Bristol, November 2018

This piece on the wall of the Star and Garter from November 2018 is truly beautiful. Her style is instantly recognisable and often solemn, although there is the slightest hint of cheekyness in this girls face – or is that just me? Great colours and so typically Tasha Bee.

 

2902. The Bearpit (186)

This prophetic piece by Object… in The Bearpit was a protest and exposure of Bristol City’s determination to shut down the space and clear it of all ‘undesirable’ activity and make it a safe, clinical space. Object… quotes from Tom Flemming a creative consultant for Bristol City Council:

…it will also be vital to champion the messy, the marginal and the avante garde, where imagination drives the city of the future.

The Council shut The Bearpit down, expelled the homeless people (some of whom I note have returned), removed skateboarding and buffed all the walls with anti-graffiti paint. The space is now sterile (and indeed safer), but street art and graffiti were not contributing to a lack of safety, but perceptions seemed to rule the Council decision making. A council, I would add, that celebrates its association with Banksy. Some muddled thinking here.

Object..., The Bearpit, Bristol, April 2018
Object…, The Bearpit, Bristol, April 2018

Object…’s piece once again features a contorted and strangely proportioned figure propping up the rights of the overlooked, the messy, marginal and avante garde mentioned above. He is a true champion and I salute him.

 

2901. M32 Spot (64)

Going through the archives is turning out some nice surprises, and I have been fiding quite a few old pieces by Conrico, like this one at the M32 Spot from August 2018, at a time when I wasn’t familiar with the artist.

Conrico, M32 Spot, Bristol, August 2018
Conrico, M32 Spot, Bristol, August 2018

This wonderful melty column piece I suspect in some way might be drug related. There is certainly something fairly unusual and dreamlike going on and the separation of the character’s head and copious amounts of smoke suggest something weird is going on. Ever colourful and imaginative, Conrico is a lovely bloke whose work really brightens the place up.

2900. Dean Lane skate park (305)

The great thing about looking back is that you get to see what artist’s work looked like some time ago and how they might have developed over time. This fabulous pair of rabbits from Nevergiveup (#followmyrabbits) is from April 2018 and is notably different from more recent incarnations of the characters in two respects: the amount of decoration on the torso is much more limited, and the ears much smaller than on the 2020 versions.

Nevergiveup, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2018
Nevergiveup, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2018

We have to remember that the artist has only been in Bristol for about three years, it feels much longer because of the abundance and spread of rabbits, but in street art terms it is a relatively short time. The image below is a more recent incarnation pf a Nevergiveup rabbit, can you see the differences?

Nevergiveup, Lucky Lane, Bristol, February 2020
Nevergiveup, Lucky Lane, Bristol, February 2020