DOLK 10 years! From vandal to artist

From illegal street art to high priced prints

Dolk began as street artist in Bergen in 2003 and according to an interview done in 2004, he had clear goals with his work: To travel the world and make money from his art. That goal is reached. He sells prints through hand made posters (hmp) where most works are priced about 900 pounds and most works are sold out. These works goes on ebay for way higher prices. Dolk have gallery exhibitions and are invited to major international street art festivals and do commissioned works all over the world. Dolk have been and is a success story.

His break trough as a stencil artist was probably when Dolk participated at "Santa's Ghetto" festival in London in 2006 (Invited by Banksy). At the same time, this probably also ends his underground image as a vandal, doing illegal works in the streets.

There are not many illegal pieces from Dolk left, and Bergen is probably still the only place where you can find early illegal works by Dolk.

Dolk in Sandviken Bergen (photo 2011)

"Crush" by Dolk in Skottegaten, Bergen (Photo 2011)

Ghetto Spedalsk (Lofoten 2008)

One of Dolks most remarkable projects so far is Ghetto Spedalsk together with Pøbel in the rural area of Lofoten, Norway. They began to paint abandoned houses in 2008 and have continued to do so every summer. This project brought attention to the depopulation and decay in rural parts of Norway and is nationally and internationally recognised. These art works are as far away from their urban roots as possible. I have not been in the Lofoten area my self and is high on my "things to do list". See some works in Lofoten here and on Dolk's own webpage here.

Dolk vs. Banksy

Back in 2004, Dolk formulated another goal in his interview: To "crush" Banksy. Well, that goal still seems far fetched. Banksy was (and may still be) Dolk's idol and hero and influenced Dolk's stecil style early on. Dolk, as Banksy, have still kept his identity a secret and people mix up works by the two artists. Banksy undoubtably helped Dolk's career by inviting Dolk to festivals in London and probably they are friends. Banksy is still the master of this game. While Dolk do commissioned work, sell prints and exhibit in galleries, Banksy still do illegal work in the streets, he makes books, films and action oriented art stunts. Banksy have kept his subversive tone and seems to be more a better organiser and creative to a larger extent than Dolk.

"The Winner" one of the latest works from Dolk. Made for Bergen Night Jazz, May 2013 (photo 2013)

Derelict and abandoned buildings: A good space for Street Art

FIRST TIME

I first visited the old paint manufacturer a gloomy dark evening in January more than a year ago. The IFA factory on Damsgård is abandoned and left to decline. Couriosity made me take a walk inside for a look.

All factory equipment was removed and big the naked halls was empty and dark. Just pipelines, steel doors and concrete columns was left. The "can artists" had been there! the place was sprayed down with graffiti works. It looked like a practice ground for the graffiti crews. Probably illegal, but not illegal enough to lead to prosecution or fines. Here they could work relatively peacefully and use time to develop their writing and use of color.

SECOND TIME

Second time visit to the abandoned buildings was quite a suprise! During easter time, local street artists had made an inside street art gallery in the old factory buildings. I piecefully walked around and looked at the works. 

It was lovely and the space was perfect!

THIRD TIME

My third time visit i found that most of the street art was tagged or destroyed by vandals with cans. A small scale "graffiti war". There is a conflict in the Bergen area between "spray vandals", between the ones that do street art in the form of figurative stencil and paste-up works and those who do more old time graffiti writing and marker writing. I think that the street artists had moved in to wrong territory this time.

At this moment they are tearing down the old factory building and the spray can vandals are gone. For a short time the abandoned building had served as a graffiti and street art gallery. I think abandoned and derelict buildings serves well as a presentation space for graffiti and street art. A kind of "popup gallery" for a limited time, curated by the street artists them selves.