Ron English at Nuart

Ron English self portrait: Mutant Ron in Stavanger

In 2012 Ron English visited Stavanger, Norway, for the NuArt Festival.  I guess that 50 years from now, Ron English will be reckoned as one of the most influential artists at the start of the 3rd. millennium. As an artist, Ron English leans heavily upon the popart movement from the 1960's, but are taking popart from the fine art galleries out to the masses, to the streets as street art and billboard take overs. Fans all over the world can buy his books filled with stickers. He plays with, twist, constructs and deconstructs the icons of our time. Just like Warhol did with Icons of his time, but English are more surreal and subversive as he fucks with corporate america, their brands and commercial strategies. His images are laden with strong sociopolitical undertones and humor.

Ron English at Tou-Scene in Stavanger

Spunge Bob zombie

Spunge Bob clone

Fat Tony! Where have I seen this figure before??

Fat Tony skeleton

Suicide Jerry

Cathy Cowgirl

Star Skull

The "Rabbits" series in Stavanger Centre

The three eyed, big sized and colourful Bunny Rabbits in Stavanger centre 

It's funny to see the rabbits as they watch the by-passers

The future is leaving......

Some days ago, I looked back on my photos from New York in September 2013, when 5 Pointz still excisted and just before Banksy took residence for a month in october, and I came across a photo I took of a bus shelter outside of 192 Books on 10th avenue. I didn't exactly understand why I took the photo in the first Place, except that the board looked peculiar. I thought it was an ad. I did some research and was excited to find out that the board on the shelter was  an "ad take over" by Ron English. An "ad take over" is when a street artist is using a space which is meant for commercials, and alter or replace it with works of art. An "Ad take over" is related to adbusting, brandalism and subvertising. Beloved activities for some street artists, and in 2011 street artists organised a massive ad takeover during one afternoon in Madrid. The project was international and called SAT (street advertising takeover).



The "Future is leaving" is placed by Levi's, and the " heartbrain" with the text "Nevermind Your Emotions" is placed there by Ron English. I guess that either Cemusa or Levi's appreciated this take over. I did! 

Ron English is a multicreative artist and has exhibitions i galleries all over the world and works exhibited in contemporary art museums. Ron English is also a street artist that creates illegal murals and billboards with biting political, consumerist and surrealist statements. Cemusa, a Spanish Company, is according to them selves an international leader in street furniture and I guess street furniture is different kind of installations and equipment placed outside for different purposes, e.g. bus shelters and part of their business strategy is to create space for commercials. That makes them a target for SATs and adbusters. See more of Ron English at propaganda tv.

Farewell to Brakkebygrenna

Late march this year I visited Gamlebyen (Old Town) an area in the inner city of Oslo and part of the oldest urban areas within the norwegian capital. Today, the area is characterized by apartment buildings from the late 1800s, and some shops, restaurants and pubs. In this area I looked up 'Brakkebygrenda', a free community illegaly established on a empty estate.

The community is sheltered by a large wooden graffiti painted fence in St. Halvards st. 27

The project startet in 1999 and was established in Old Town in year 2000. The inspiration for the project came from Germany, where after the Berlin Wall was set free, large tracts of land without clear ownership became available and alternative communities were formed. Brakkebygrenda has been controversial from the start, and the authorities never recognised the settlers.

  
The aim of the project was to create an alternative living environment and to live as organic as possible in the urban environment and Brakkebygrenda developed into a small community based on ecological and energy saving principles. The accommodation consisted of caravans, sheds, cottages and mobile homes and even old cars. Residential numbers was about 10 people plus dogs and cats. Each resident was responsible for their own living space and took take part in the collective through plenary meetings.

Inside, I was free to move around and the few residents I met was friendly, but didn't like to be photographed because of their continously fight with the authorities and the police. 

June 4th, after 4 years of occupation, 20 police officers and reprecentatives from the Council cut down the fence, moved out the residents by force and destroyed their homes. See video here. A space for counterculture and alternativ ways of thinking and living is gone.

The spring of Joy

Spring comes late here up north. Here it's still spring and spring has been beautiful in Bergen this year. May and June are festival times in Bergen, and when weather is good, people come out to enjoy. Spring is also a good time for street art here and this spring new stencil works by an artist with the alias Joy have popped up all around the city.

Hope to see more of Joy in the streets and meanwhile the days are getting longer and longer, and summer is around the corner.