Tag: Zase

2854. York Street (2)

This is a wonderful old piece (2014 I think) from Zase, that I have only just photographed. Due to thee Covid-19 lock down, this wall is clear of any parked cars in front of it and this is the first time when I have been passing on foot that I have been able to get a clean shot.

Zase, York Street, Bristol, March 2020
Zase, York Street, Bristol, March 2020

The whole thing is unmistakably by Zase and the 3D writing in the middle, which you’d normally expect to spell ZASE actually spells A&M, which is the name of the garage A&M Motor Services in York Street.

Zase, York Street, Bristol, March 2020
Zase, York Street, Bristol, March 2020

On the right of the piece is a pretty graphic crash-crumpled car, slightly on the macabre side, and on the left a rather snazzy Mercedes and dashboard. I think that this is an absolutely stunning piece and has weathered really well over the years with only a little bit of tagging.

Zase, York Street, Bristol, March 2020
Zase, York Street, Bristol, March 2020

This area is crammed with amazing work from Zase who lives nearby. We are very lucky to have him in Bristol. I think it is high time I produced a gallery of his work… watch this space.

2627. Barton Street

Continuing with the late release of prisoners from my archive, I bring you this extraordinary piece from April this year by Zase. The commission was one of two pieces that he painted and is at the back of Marlborough House, a student accommodation. Bristol has two universities and a whole ton of students, which is part of what makes Bristol so mixed and interesting, but the expansion of UWE in particular has led to a massive growth in student accommodation and many of the recent developments in the centre have been built by the universities.

Zase, Barton Road, Bristol, April 2019
Zase, Barton Road, Bristol, April 2019

I guess it is great to see the university promoting Bristol’s artists with a commmission like this, so I can’t really complain. Zase is a truly gifted artist who seems to be able to turn his hand to pretty much anything and here he has painted a fabulous seascape with racing yachts. I particularly like the pixellated effect of leaving a few bricks unpainted at the top of the piece.

1789. Upfest 2018 (65)

What a wonderful clean and colourful piece by Bristol-based Zase. There is rather a nice little story going on in this piece, and I love the sketch on the floor of the 3D writing of the artist’s name that appears on the right hand side of the piece.

Zase and Dekor, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
Zase and Dekor, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018

Zase has been painting solo for a little bit as his collaborator Dekor returned to his homeland for a while. It looks like this is by both of them, or at least it is signed by both on the bottom left-hand side of the piece, so maybe Dekor is back on the scene again. There is a serenity and maybe sadness about the piece, which is certainly one of my favourites of the festival. Oh yeah, and if you wanted evidence of the rain we had, the picture above is a little on the watery side…grrrrr.

1752. Newfoundland Road

I found this by complete accident. I was driving around town and decided to make a quick trip over to the M32 roundabout to see if there was anything new to photograph there, but on the way I passed this building and caught sight of the bright colours in my peripheral vision. Thank heavens for peripheral vision…eh?

Zase, Newfoundland Road, Bristol, September 2018
Zase, Newfoundland Road, Bristol, September 2018

The piece, on a newly redeveloped site is by Zase and has really made a statement for this otherwise utterly unremarkable building. I often wonder to myself whether great murals add to the value of a property or detract from it. I know my own personal view, but would love to know the view of buyers and sellers of property.

Zase, Newfoundland Road, Bristol, September 2018
Zase, Newfoundland Road, Bristol, September 2018

I’m not sure what the brief was for this mural, but he has incorporated portraits of ordinary people, perhaps reflecting the diversity of the surrounding area. As always he has incorporated his 3D ZASE, which is something of a hallmark on his murals.

Zase, Newfoundland Road, Bristol, September 2018
Zase, Newfoundland Road, Bristol, September 2018

If you can be bothered, it is well worth going onto Google maps and streetview to see what a fantastic improvement has been made to this building by the refurb and the mural togather. This is almost like gentrification but maintaining the spirit of the community, and I am all for it (provided the resulting apartments/offices are truly affordable).

1556. Mina Road (2)

Once in a while we are lucky enough in Bristol to see a large commission piece appear in a public space, the last significant one being the Jodi piece for the Florist on the corner of Park Street and Charlotte street. This beautiful commission is by Zase and can be found in Mina Road.

Zase and Dekor, Mina Road, Bristol, June 2018
Zase and Dekor, Mina Road, Bristol, June 2018

Were it not for visionaries who commission this work in the first place, our streets would be considerably duller than they are. In this case, the recent owner of the restaurant is also owner of several other buildings in the area and he is keen to get some of those painted up too.

Zase and Dekor, Mina Road, Bristol, June 2018
Zase and Dekor, Mina Road, Bristol, June 2018

This magnificent piece is a solo work by Zase as I am told that Dekor, his painting partner, has returned to his homeland (Slovakia?). A theme that Zase returns to again and again is the natural world, and this piece showcases his talent for painting birds and a natural landscape.

Zase and Dekor, Mina Road, Bristol, June 2018
Zase and Dekor, Mina Road, Bristol, June 2018

There is something about flamingos that street artists seem to like – maybe it is the vibrant colours or the curious body form, whatever it is there are a disproportionate number of them out there. Not that I’m complaining mind.

Zase and Dekor, Mina Road, Bristol, June 2018
Zase and Dekor, Mina Road, Bristol, June 2018

I like pretty much everything about this mural and of course it contains the trademark 3D moniker from the artist just to the right of the flamingo. Well worth a trip to see this one.

1174. Cottrell Road (2)

Zase and Dekor are the masters of large high-impact walls in Bristol, and most of the pieces that they do, go up and stay up. In this particular case they have replaced a piece that they sprayed here a few years ago, because the wall needed to be re-rendered.

Zase and Dekor, Cottrell Road, Bristol, September 2017
Zase and Dekor, Cottrell Road, Bristol, September 2017

The wall is a local landmark which has a vast audience because it is just off the M32 and outside a large retail park and the Eastville Tesco. Thousands of people will drive past it every day and I’m sure will be captivated by the unfolding story.

Zase and Dekor, Cottrell Road, Bristol, September 2017
Zase and Dekor, Cottrell Road, Bristol, September 2017

The central theme of the piece revolves around some local wildlife, a squirrel, a robin, a fox, a hedgehog and a badger, set in a rather stark woodland. Hovering above is a fabulous 3D wildstyle ZASE, a feature common to all their collaborations.

Zase and Dekor, Cottrell Road, Bristol, September 2017
Zase and Dekor, Cottrell Road, Bristol, September 2017

There is a wonderful touch in this work, a reference to the piece that existed here before – a lady riding on the back of a turtle with a colander on her head – she is in the bottle. On reflection, I wonder if it is not a lady, but a gentleman…I can’t be sure now.

Zase and Dekor, Cottrell Road, Bristol, September 2017
Zase and Dekor, Cottrell Road, Bristol, September 2017

This is a mighty and detailed piece that sits so comfortably in this location – I am certain that it will remain here for many years cheering up shoppers and commuters and bringing a smile to their faces. Xase and Dekor doing Bristol proud.

Zase and Dekor, Cottrell Street, Bristol, August 2015
Zase and Dekor, Cottrell Street, Bristol, August 2015

837. M32 Spot (5)

Another column under the M32, and another brilliant piece which is impossible to do justice to with my limited photographic skills. This distinctive and crisp piece is by Zase and Dekor with an imaginative and creative underwater scene.

Zase and Dekor, M32 Spot, Bristol, June 2017
Zase and Dekor, M32 Spot, Bristol, June 2017

I love the artistic style of this duo and the combination of the wildstyle 3D ZASE lettering combined with a fantastical scene.

Zase and Dekor, M32 Spot, Bristol, June 2017
Zase and Dekor, M32 Spot, Bristol, June 2017

The interesting thing about painting a column is that the story that unfolds is caught up in a loop, never-ending. There is no beginning and no end, simply a scene. This must present a bit of a challenge to the artists who choose to spray all four sides.

Zase and Dekor, M32 Spot, Bristol, June 2017
Zase and Dekor, M32 Spot, Bristol, June 2017

There is a wit and charm about this particular work – the diver is holding a roller and seems unaware of the looming shark. Perhaps he will beat it off using his artistic weapon of choice. I am a fan of this project, but columns really are a nightmare.

764. M32 roundabout, J3 (36)

I saw this piece recently and had to do a double take. It is by Zase and Dekor, but so unlike anything I have seen from them before. Not the highly polished, meticulous work I am used to seeing, rather a fun quick piece, that almost looks incomplete. Nothing like this or even this which I have posted before.

Zase and Dekor, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2017
Zase and Dekor, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2017

The wildstyle writing clearly spells out Zase, and the characters are clearly influenced by the hand of Dekor, but somehow the whole doesn’t look like a work from them.

Zase and Dekor, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2017
Zase and Dekor, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2017

In a way it is great to see artists letting their hair down and just having fun. No pressure, no commission, just fun.

702. Upfest 2016 (106)

I love the high-end quality of the work produced by Zase and Dekor. Always highly designed and thought out, their pieces always contain a story picture and a wildstyle ‘Zase’. This magnificent wall sprayed for Upfest is no exception.

Dekor, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Dekor, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

It reminds me a little of a piece they did at Deaners a short while before Upfest, which might have been a fun practise run.

Zase, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Zase, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

Dekor was rather quiet and focussed at Upfest, but Zase was happy to have a good chat while he was working. I asked whether he would be happy to do an interview for my blog, which he agreed to do, but of course I haven’t got round to it yet. Watch this space.

Zase and Dekor, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Zase and Dekor, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

There is something very clean about their work, and the stories contained in them really play a large part. Zase produces these amazing 3D wildstyle writing which are a little like puzzles to unravel, but once you get your eye in are really pleasing.

Zase and Dekor, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Zase and Dekor, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

They workm on a lot of commissions, which is why it is so good to see them at Upfest, and at Deaners during July.

Zase and Dekor, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Zase and Dekor, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES
SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES

313. Dean Lane skate park (12)

I was away in London earlier this week, starting a new job that requires me to work two days a week in ‘the old smoke’. It is my home city, so I feel quite comfortable being back there, but would never swap it for my life in Bristol now. This, however, is a slight digression.

On Monday night in my soulless hotel room, I was fretting about this amazing new Zase and Dekor piece that they slapped up in Bristol on Saturday (and had posted on Instagram).

Zase and Dekor, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2016
Zase and Dekor, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2016

The turnover is so high at Dean Lane, I was desperate to get back to Bristol and photograph it before it got tagged or over-painted.

Zase and Dekor, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2016
Zase and Dekor, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2016

On Wednesday, my first day back in my Bristol Office, I sprinted over to the skate park in my lunch break (I’ve got the return journey down to about 40 minutes) and was rewarded with this remarkable piece. I have always had huge admiration for the Zase-Dekor collaborations that mostly reside in the North of Bristol.

Zase and Dekor, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2016
Zase and Dekor, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2016

Usually they craft huge works, but this one is much smaller and clearly a bit of fun. Many of the hallmarks are there…the cartoon-style character and wildstyle ZASE, and the wonderful crisp lines and clean finish. A small masterpiece.

Zase and Dekor, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2016
Zase and Dekor, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2016