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Stop the clocks again
we remember and reflect
courage and duty
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by Scooj
Tag: War
7109. Brunel Way (331)
The two most prominent conflicts (although there are countless others) of our time that have mobilised public attitudes in the UK are the Israeli occupation of Gaza and The West Bank, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, both of which are barely out of the news at the moment. The Nobel Peace Prize nominee-in-waiting, Donald Trump has appeased the aggressors and most powerful forces in both conflicts and achieved absolutely no progress towards peace since he took office. Shame on him. Siding with bullies and looking for a favourable deal (for him and his cronies) is all he appears to care about.
Meanwhile, protests continue and are powerfully expressed through graffiti art, which has a capability to commentate on the injustices of the world in a way that has a lasting impact. Mr Draws has done himself proud with this huge ‘Free Palestine’ piece in chrome, sitting on the red white and green colours of the Palestinian flag. I guess the black drop shadow makes up the black from the flag. (Note to self – prepare some protest galleries).
7056. St Werburghs tunnel (516)
Mind 49 has always been an activist, and although his art has mellowed in recent years, his principles are still very much intact. This anti-war piece is striking, poignant and beautifully presented.
Skulls are a common motif/subject in street art and this is one of the very best examples I have ever seen. Mind 49 has captured the tones, shading and depth perfectly. Strangely, the helmet almost seems as though it is painted by a completely different artist. It is lacking in detail, the perspective is slightly out and the flags a bit untidy. I don’t know why this is, whether it is a deliberate device or that Mind 49 has absolutely cracked the skull and needs to work on helmets. It is a mystery.
The message to take home is clear. ‘Destroy the war machine’, which is directed at the UK, the USA and Israel. I could go into a long and thoughtful essay about the war in Palestine, and the impotence of voices that want an end to the killing and suffering. History will not look favourably on the genocide and the parallels with WWII concentration camps and justifications for extermination. Can’t people see the paradox? I’ll stop there. It upsets me too much.
6115. Moon Street (106)
Ooh! This is a superb ‘extra’ stencil piece painted by Goin while he was in Bristol for Upfest. It is pieces like this that separate out the ‘circuit muralists’ from the everyday street artists. Although Goin is often a featured artist at paint festivals, he likes to paint on the streets too, which is something I like and appreciate.
This is a telling stencil piece, and I don’t think that you need to be a genius to work out what is going on. A soldier is pointing his rifle at a tiny ladybird, and the latter obviously doesn’t stand a chance in this contest. There are many ways of protesting against war, and this piece from Goin is a very powerful image making the point. The red colour of the ladybird in a strange way offers some hope and beauty to this horrific scene. Thank you Goin for this wonderful gift to Bristol.
5670. M32 Spot (176)
With his finger pretty much always on the pulse, it was only a matter of time before John D’oh would create a stencil commentary piece about the war in Gaza and here it is. In this column piece, John D’oh presents a touching and tender piece that also references Bristol and Banksy.
The message is clear, and one I think anyone in their right mind would agree with – ‘teach peace’. A young child and teddy look on at the right approach to conflict – the correct example throwing flowers and the incorrect version throwing Molotov cocktails. Along with most of us, this piece is asking for conflict to stop.
5645. The Carriageworks (46)
One of the things I love about street and graffiti art is that much of it captures the mood of the times we live in and reflects local or world events back to us, often with a political message or commentary. Wars receive a great deal of attention, for example the Russian invasion of Ukraine led to a spate of passionate and moving street art (Gallery to come on this one). Now we are seeing a proliferation of pieces representing the horrors unfolding in Palestine and Gaza.
3Dom, has painted a rather grim piece that represents the inequity and imbalance that is at play in the war on Hamas by Israel. The piece suggests that the USA and UK are complicit in the Israeli bombing of Gaza, and cleverly conveys the confined nature of the Gaza strip. What is happening in Gaza is beyond comprehension and reaffirms my view that nationalism, whipped up by dictators and fanatics (drunk with power), is an evil thing. Well done 3Dom for visually articulating the horror of this war so well.
Dystopia
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Wild nationalism
inevitable conflict
the future is now
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by Scooj
5040. St Werburghs tunnel (355)
This magnificent piece by Billy is almost exactly a year old, and although it didn’t last long, it is a poignant reminder that Ukraine is not the only country suffering at the hands of Russian aggression. As Billy says to the left of the piece: “‘My home’ Drawing by a boy from Syria in a workshop I once did – Billy”
Billy’s naive style lends itself very well to replicating the work of children. This composition has a clear message that is delivered with utter simplicity. The horror of war on the left, and the green and pleasant place we call home on the right. When thee two forces meet, there tends to be only one winner. This piece could equally well apply to any war zone, but it somehow feels appropriate to post it on the day after the anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Thank you, Billy.
Conflict
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Archipelago
out of sight and out of mind
Galtieri strikes
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by Scooj
Unimaginable
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It isn’t thunder
or lightening lighting the sky
bombs fall on Ukraine
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by Scooj
Natural adventures 