London in May - street art, part 2

If you're lucky, you come across some of the artists more than once...

Roa is a street artists from Belgium who has created large-scale black and white animals across the streets of east London.

From about.com “Roa’s fine draftsmanship sets him above other street artists and I particularly admire the vivid sense of life that he imparts to his creatures, which transfix you with their wide eyes. The anatomical detail of these animals is lovingly achieved, yet they are unsentimental portraits of feral beasts that demand respect, resisting our simple affection. Their looming scale and piercing gaze can be challenging – charged with tension, their eyes always follow you.

For the most part, Roa places his animals in unloved, unrecognised corners of the cityscape that are the natural home for scavengers and vermin. But once these spaces are inhabited, the creatures become the familiar spirits of their locations, living embodiments of these places, and our relationship with them parallels our feelings about the streetscape itself. Their powerful presence no longer permits us to remain indifferent.”

 

the background is roughed out in whitewash, then the image is drawn with black spray paint (detail)...

Ben Eine has spray-painted huge letters on shutters across Hoxton and Shoreditch for many years. He is less secretive than other street artists although he has a background as a graffiti artist. He now reckons he's too old to run away so often creates art on walls with permission as well as selling in galleries.

on Ebor Street, facing each other - are you 'pro' or 'anti'?

under a bridge

Stik has created large distinctive stick figures across east London.

We even managed to find a Banksy, at the Cargo Beer Garden on Rivington Street. Titled "His Master's Voice"

And just great artists...

close-up of above...

and some are just social commentaries. Not sure who does these street people but there are quite a few, peering out at you from unexpected places...