If you’re not sure what the heck ‘Helch’ means, you’re not alone. It was first heard in Harrow, but it’s now a part of the city. It’s also been seen in Paddington and South Kensington, as well as Bristol, which is a city that is aptly named. There’s even a sign on the M4 stating that Boris is a Helch.
Give helch a break
If you’ve ever been to Bristol, you might have noticed graffiti called “Give Helch a Break”. The term is an amalgamation of the words “hiccup” and “belch,” meaning “hell yes.” It’s a familiar sight for Bristol residents, as Banksy has painted the name of his character on a railway bridge over the M32, and sprayed it on the railings around the Eastville M32 junction. But did you know that helch graffiti is also a thing in London?
The graffiti is always controversial. For many years, the graffiti read “Give Peas a Chance”, but was changed to “Give HELCH a Break.” The original graffiti was so popular that a petition has been set up to get it back. Network Rail, which owns the viaduct, can’t encourage graffiti.
Another notable example of Helch graffiti is on the Chalfont Viaduct, a bridge over the M25 in London. Originally, the phrase “Give Peas a Chance” appeared on the bridge. It was altered by Helch to say “Give Helch a Break.” However, some people have called for the original phrase to be reinstated.
The graffiti has made a splash all over the UK. It has been used on buildings, railway stations, and motorway bridges. It’s so widespread that it’s become a cause for concern for the Queen, who was upset when the ‘HELCH’ tag was daubed on a railway viaduct near her Berkshire home.
The graffiti has been appearing on the bridge since the weekend. Initially, the graffiti was confined to the Harrow area, but has now appeared in South Kensington and Paddington. Highways England, the body responsible for roads in the UK, have notified the graffiti artist and the police. They are investigating the incident and are seeking prosecution.
Give peas a chance
The phrase “Give Peas a Chance at Helch” was written on a bridge over the M25, but in a recent change, it is read “Give Helch a Break.” People urged the council to reinstate the original graffiti, but Network Rail declined to do so, saying the words are an example of scatological vandalism and pose a health risk to motorists.
Since the Bristol graffiti began, the HELCH has also appeared in London. At first, it was concentrated in Harrow, but has since spread to South Kensington and Paddington. Highways England has issued a warning to the group, saying their activities constitute vandalism. It is working with police to prosecute those involved.
The graffiti is accompanied by a petition aimed at removing the name. As of August, there are over six thousand people who have signed the petition. It is unclear how many of these people will be successful in their campaign, but the name will certainly make a statement.
The word “helch” has a history in west London graffiti. The phrase first appeared on the Chalfont Viaduct in September 2018 and has since popped up in numerous places across the capital. MyLondon spoke to a person who claimed to know the name ‘Helch’ and found out that the tagger had a background in the graffiti culture.
Helch has also tagged buildings and railway bridges. The tags are spray-applied and can be seen from various parts of West London. Some of the tags appear as far as Windsor. It is unclear whether the HELCH team is a professional organisation or a slapdash group.
Seen was a graffiti writer
Seen was a graffiti writer in Bristol during the 1980s. He began to paint the walls of pubs in Bristol while experimenting with stencils. His work has a critical and political feel. The recession and anti-Thatcher sentiment in Bristol helped inspire his work. After being arrested twice, he decided to paint for pub owners. He also studied the work of Andy Warhol. After his work gained attention, he got an invitation to exhibit in London.
The graffiti-written walls of Bristol’s Stokes Croft area have changed the city’s landscape. Its once gloomy streets have now been transformed into a colourful canvas. The city council financed the project, and one dedicated council member donated half his annual salary. The street art in Bristol is a testament to its artistic heritage.
The work of Seen has been controversial, attracting both local and international fans. The Bristol city council eventually placed the piece on display at the museum to raise money for the Broad Plain Boys’ Club, which is struggling with financial problems. But this controversy hasn’t stopped Seen from displaying his work in Bristol.
Inkie, alias Tom Bingle, is another graffiti writer with a global reputation. He co-founded the Upfest festival in South Bristol, which attracts artists from all over the world. He is still an advocate for legal painting spaces. His work is featured in another BBC documentary that will explore the changing face of U.K. street art in the decades since Operation Anderson. He has, however, denied any claim to the “Godfather” title.
The Bristol graffiti scene is a vibrant and exciting one. The city is home to some of the most celebrated works in the world. It is also home to a vibrant post-modern culture.
Cost of helch graffiti
The infamous ‘Helch graffiti’ has been defacing iconic landmarks in west London for months. First appearing on the Chalfont Viaduct, it originally read ‘Give Peas a Chance’ and was later changed to ‘Give Helch a Break.’ After the graffiti became a cause célèbre, petitions began to get the words removed from the bridge. Network Rail refused to remove the word, saying that it was putting people’s lives at risk.
The word ‘Helch’ is a combination of the words ‘hiccup’ and ‘belch.’ The word is short for “hell yes.” Bristol residents may have noticed this graffiti before. They may have seen the name sprayed on railings around the Eastville M32 junction. Since then, the vandal has moved to London.
The meaning of ‘Helch’ has been debated since it was first spotted. The word is a combination of the words “belch” and “hiccup.” Although it is used as a graffiti tag, many people aren’t sure how to interpret it. Some believe it to be a term of an artist.
Since the graffiti first appeared in the city, there has been a lot of backlash about HELCH. The graffiti was originally titled ‘PEAS’, but was rewritten to read ‘HELCH’ in an attempt to make it more politically correct. This changed after a petition with a goal of bringing the original back received 2,000 signatures.
The removal of Helch graffiti is one of the most expensive and difficult projects in the UK, and is estimated to cost more than one million pounds a year. The removal of HELCH graffiti has been compared to that of Banksy and Spiderman. It has even upset the Queen.
