Catch-Up

As I wrote last week, I have not been able to post anything on this blog for 2 years because (I think) someone hacked it. I have missed loads of great stuff and I have found some pics of some of the stuff I missed. Please click "join blog", have a look at previous posts and interviews and contact me if you have any questions and remember you can click on the pictures to enlarge them, mancpete

8-bit has been getting up quite a bit in recent months, I like his/her stuff as it makes me laugh and is also clever.

As some of you may know, I'm not the biggest fan of Banksy, or stencils for that matter, but obviously his work sometimes grabs me by the balls, here are some examples.

Speaking of funny and grabbing by the balls, here's some political commentary from t.wat. AV summa that!

There are a lot of prolific artists around Brick Lane and one of the most prolific is Nathan Bowen. I hope to do an interview with him one day, but he hardly drinks! I like to interview when drunk, its the truth drug! Nathan's technique is very unique and it takes him hours, even days, to complete a piece. After Lives was up for ages, unfortunately the building site board was taken down.

I don't know who the girl is in these pictures, but I would like to! I wonder if it's Jana or JS?

Another prolific artist is Bortusk Leer, here are some examples of his work from a few months back.

I found a Son of Recession piece that I've never seen before. The artist has now moved back to his native Italy and has a club night and fashion label called "Cult Deep", search online and check it out. Also, on the right are links to previous posts and you will find an interview with him and other artists including Stik! He has a very interesting style, for more information go to the previous post reviewing and explaining his work.

No words needed for the next piece, enjoy!

I'm also not really a fan of paste-ups but they have there own merits, like being able to put your message across quickly without being caught by the police. Here are some of the best I've seen 

One of my favourite artists is Roa, he became famous for painting rats, though he now paints all manner of animals, and a few of them are huge like the crane on Brick Lane (see previous posts) and this monster in Mexico City! 

Here are a couple from a bit closer to home... Can you guess where?

There have been a few installations popping up recently as well. Here are some of my favourites.

Well, I say recently but this one has been up for about 3 years

I was walking down Hanbury street just by Roa's huge Crane painting a few months ago and saw a graf artist in action, Mear One, we got talking and it turned out that he and my friend attended the same school in L.A. Here's his work, quite clever I think.

This is also by Mear One and it reminds of a Banksy

The next piece replaced the Mear One "New World Order" piece about 1 month later

Now we have some more recent works, including a piece that went up just 3 days ago. Enjoy!

Unknown artist, Rivington St.

Unknown artist, Redchurch St.

Paul 'Don' Smith Fashion St.

Multiple artists, Brick Lane

AKA Jimmy C, Sclater St.

Montage, Sclater St.

Dan Kitchener, Redchurch St.

Snapseed, Old Truman Brewery

Gnasher, Brick Lane

Hunto, Brick Lane

Parenesis, Brick Lane

Shok-1, Brick Lane

Stinkfish and Buytronick, Brick Lane

Unknown artist, Piss Alley, Brick Lane (created 3 days ago!)

Well folks, I hope you enjoyed my latest post, and remember a few things. Please click "join blog", have a look at previous posts and interviews and contact me if you have any questions, mancpete.

Brick Lane Arts blog is BACK!

After nearly 2 years of not writing anything on this blog, I'M BACK! I'm 99% certain that it was hacked by someone and Google finally sorted it out after many email requests and failed attempts to login.

I have missed many pieces of street art in that time but I can't cry over spilt milk, I just need to get on with it!

First up is one of my favourite artists of all time, Stik. These 2 pieces are quite old but I have been wanting to share them with you for ages, so I kept them. As with all the images you see here, just click on them for enlarged versions.

This is on a door on the corner of Brick Lane and Bethnal Green Road, it has been there for years and I think I have posted it before. What I like about this is the broken up graf over it saying "When does Stik become an insect" (Geddit?). this has now been removed by Stik, so I'm so glad I caught it!

This "family" is very close to the hospital so it's not exactly on Brick Lane, but I included it anyway. Again, it's a very old piece, but Stik still goes around renovating old and weathered pieces.

The next artist I believe is called Cranio (correct me if I'm wrong) and he's from Brazil (if you hadn't noticed). Also featured here is one of my favourite paste-up artists, Paul 'Don' Smith. For the non-British visitors, the character in the top right hand corner is called Del Boy, from a TV show called "Only Fools and Horses" that was voted the best comedy show of all time.

More favourite artists of mine include Nathan Bowen, Osch and Shok-1. Here are some oldish pieces from them.

Hahahahaha! Donald Duck killed Big Bird! He's always been a bit too camp for me anyway!

This piece is a bit of a departure from Osch's other work, which is why I like it.

Another artist that has been prolific in my absence is Shok-1, I apologise for the poor picture quality, but this piece was only up for a few days and I knew that I had to get pics of it quick!

Now I'm not a religious person, though there has been a religious debate in the area (check the history and social circumstances of Brick Lane for yourself), but this piece appeals to me for a variety of reasons. It speaks of the polarising nature of religious dogma to me, but make of it what you will.

I would like to find out the name of this artist, so if anyone knows get in touch.

As you may know, I'm not a great fan of paste-ups, but a lot of them are getting more innovative. Here are a few that have caught my eye.

Again, I don't know who these are by, so let me know if you do.

The master of paste-ups in my opinion is Mr. Fahrenheit. He makes me laugh so much! Though he doesn't seem to come to Brick Lane very often.

"Pope on Dope"! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

I also like artists that find unusual mediums for their work. Here's something I stumbled upon in January, in the middle of one of the coldest winters in living memory!

I've no idea if that is this guys tag at the bottom, but I would like to find out who did this as well.

The next piece looks unfinished, though I've no idea if that's how it's meant to look.

I like the way it's juxtaposed to the walking man on the floor.

As you know, I'm from Manchester, and just last weekend Kelzo, a good friend from over 20 years ago came down to Brick Lane to do a piece for his sponsor. After he finished, I took him and his girlfriend Renee, on a tour of the street art here. Needless to say, they loved it! Here's Kelzo's piece.

I feel that there is so much more I should show you after all this time, but I can't! I will try to source pics of pieces that I have missed, and if you have any you can always contact me by email or on fb.

Glad to be back!

mancpete   

I'm back! After nearly 2 years of not being able to post, I'm back in!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have never found out why my account was blocked, and I probably never will! I presume that some c*nt hacked me.... but I'm back. More to follow, watch this space...

New pieces + Breaking news

Well the artists around Brick Lane are out of hibernation alright! These pieces have appeared in the last couple of days. Enjoy!

Sesame Street is a classic and Oscar the Grouch was one of my favourites, though he always seemed to get his comeupance!





















Oscar the Grouch, by BLAM, Hanbury St. off Brick Lane



















Oscar the Grouch, by BLAM, Hanbury St. off Brick Lane


Here's a close-up of the cut out teardrop in the doorway next to Oscar. I really like random little "throw-ups" (as graffiti artists call them) that are quick little messages from the artist


























Cut-out teardrop, unknown artist, Hanbury St. off Brick Lane

Speaking of graffit artists... I'm sure this isn't recent but I only spotted it today. There are plenty of Stik's pieces on here, just go through past posts, there's also an interview that is quite funny. We're planning more interviews while he's doing a piece as well. Watch this space!




















Stik family, by Stik, off Whitechapel High St.

You may have read in my last post that I saw Parlee at work and I intended to go back later to picture the finished piece but it had been tagged beyond recognition? He must have ssen it himself coz this appeared overnight. To be honest (sorry Parlee if you read this) I much prefer this piece anyway, so maybe the taggers did you a favour!

Parlee, car park off Brick Lane

Breaking news - The artist Damien Hirst, of formaldehyde cow fame, has joined my facebook group! I'm sure that this means stardom on the arts circuit awaits me! hahahahaha

Check him, and the other "followers" out at facebook.com/bricklanearts

Coming up:

First Thursday - tomorrow! I will be doing the rounds of all the galleries that open their doors and give away plenty of free booze (not that that's why I'm going ;-0 ). I will (try to, hang-over permitting) upload it on Friday.

Interview with Stik. When he calls me to do his next piece I will hot-foot it over and capture the action, while trying not to be as stupid as in our first interview (see bottom of the page)

That's all folks!

mancpete

Please read my Mission Statement

Mission Statement

This blog is about showing people around the world the wonderful artwork on the streets and in the galleries in the Brick Lane area of London, which I have extended to Aldgate in the south and Hoxton in the north.

Art should be free, that’s why graffiti and street-art are so important to me.

I am cynical about the “artworld” and attack its commercialism whenever and wherever I see fit.

If a gallery has the prices of the artists work next to the piece, this exhibition will not get a good review, no matter how good the work is.

I will strive to get into the head of an artist when I interview them and always ask about the price as a way of ascertaining whether they are in it for money and fame.

I will also ask them about the concept of pieces, and as much as I can about their methodology and technique.

I will report on art-related issues that appear in the press and online.

N.B. This list is not exhaustive, I will probably add more as I extend the blog.

I'm back!

I'm back!


After a 6 month hiatus, I'm finally able to bring you some new reporting of the art-scene around Brick Lane. It's VERY quiet around here in the winter for art (though all the clubs, bars and restaurants still do great business), but now the sun is out the artists come out of hiding to show us what they have been working on during those long, cold, bitter nights.

Of course, not all artists go into hibernation, I'm gonna show you some that have popped-up in the winter and a few more recent pieces as well.

First up, we have "Art is the Cure" by Eska, who is part of a collective that did some paintings next to this. I like the the perspective and depth on this, also the Banksy-esque throw-up of the Queen makes me laugh (click to enlarge)

Eska, Sclater St. off Brick Lane.


Next to this on Sclater St. car park we have Parlee in action. I did come back later to picture the end result, but it had been tagged and toyed already. Effin taggers!















Parlee, Sclater St. off Brick Lane

The third one from the collective is my favourite. I love the freakiness of it. Check it out!















Demayne, Sclater St. off Brick Lane

I saw Stik yesterday and I told that I only just noticed this piece, which also on Sclater St. on a man-hole cover. He actually painted this in January in between snowstorms. See the interview with Stik, along with 3 other interviews, at the bottom of the page.

Some of the sticker artists have been keeping busy, here's couple of good ones.

I like this one not just because of the sentiment, but also the positioning. It's in the courtyard of Bar 1001 on Brick Lane. I think they are meant to be together though its hard to be sure. Maybe they are juxtaposed deliberately.

Fucking Weather! Dray Walk, off Brick Lane. (click to enlarge)

This one is made from paper and actual coat material. The message is also important because I believe it's at least partially true, for example, look at the politicians that go into corporate jobs.

The stencillers have been out as well.

Unless you've been living on Mars, you will be aware that its the royal wedding this week and even the stencil artists arre getting in on the act. This is Prince William, but look closely at the face and ear-rings. Yes it's Princess Diana wearing Wills' military uniform. The artist may be wondering what she would think of the wedding.

Here's a poignant piece by one of my favourite artists, Nathan Bowen. There are a number of his pieces on this blog and all are great. One of his main themes seems to be war and the futility of it. The meaning of the poppy dripping blood seems to say that both the British and American governments have blood on their hands due to their imperialistic ways and greed for oil etc.

Nathan Bowen, "Remember", Brick Lane, London

There seems to be a trend emerging for interactive art. This is quite ingenious in some ways, though I wonder if it'a actually a ploy by a marketing company. Maybe I'm just too suspicious!

Earlier I mentioned that I bumped into Stik the other day. Well... coming soon a live interview while he is painting a piece! I will be calling him soon to arrange it and the next day it will be here, so keep checking in. If you haven't already, have a look at the interview with him below as wellas 3 other artists.

That's all for now, and rest assured, it won't be another 6 months till my next post.

See ya!

Mancpete