Happy New Year!

Argus piece in Vestre Skostredet

"If one asks himself what living individual who gives most of the Bergen population's sense of identity, I think (after Herman Friele who has moved out of the town hall) that is the 80 year old Otto. Otto Fredrik Wollertsen had the street as his home for the most of his adult life. Through his daily hunched walks through the city's streets for decades, by bike, cassette player and harmonica, he's become a part of Bergen's soul. And through his choice of life, he has seen the world from the standpoint almost no other know. Therefore, his story uniquely enriching." - Ole Hamre in 2008

Ottoen strolling by a big wall poster on EU leadership

HAPPY NEW YEAR, GOOD PEOPLE!!

It's warm inside!

It's warm and cousy inside and December offers just a few hours of light a day. Bergen Street Art (BSA) have moved inside. The Gallery at USF (United Sardines Factory) and BSA have curated the largest assembly of street art works from local artists to date. BSA is a collective or assosiation of artists that promote street art and organizes different activities like workshops, discussions and street art happenings. The exhibition this time was a showcase, and the works was not for sale. 

These artists are usually found in the streets outside, in and around Bergen city. Some of them still active vandals. Others haven't done any interesting stuff in the streets for years.

I'm usually critical to street art inside, even if the artist is Dolk (See the blogpost: 'Wildlife'). And I must say that the 'LEGAL' exhibition was no exception. This art inside becomes toothless and misplaced. If the  exhibition is regarded as presenting the status of street art in Bergen today, I think the status is in no good shape. With a few exceptions, the works do not give much hope for the future, regarding creativity, quality and impact.

My personal faviourites (and few exceptions) in BSA are Argus and johnxc. In addition, I like LaStaa, but would have liked to see more new works from the artist out in the streets.

I like Argus for his productivity and variability, always cutting new stuff and presenting original works. I like the relatively new "tile style". His stencil motives, made up of triangulated tiles in different shapes and sizes, are fresh and I've seen nothing like it in the street art world. Argus is a creative force and I regard him as the leading street artist in Bergen today.

Argus Stencil at USF (outside)

Argus have not found reason to present works on "soft" canvas made for livingrooms yet.

 I love the "Strindberg maniacs" of johnxc. His portraits are figurative, but made experimental with, I think, inflicted madness :-). johnxc often us magazine papers as canvas and paste them up on the wall. I think his style is original and distinctive and he's the only street artist contributing to 'LEGAL' that I could concider putting up on my wall.  johnxc have found a way that actually works both outside and inside.

johnxc work inside at 'LEGAL'

Works from the showcase:

johnxc to the left and stencil 'Salome' by Yatzy to the right

The new king of chess: Magnus Carlsen portrayed by LaStaa

Upper left is the 'The Angry Boy' by LaStaa (inspired by the famous statue of Gustav Vigeland), Bottom Left a stencil by Chris Stain and right, stencil and installation by Habitus

Some of the artist made pieces outside in the USF area, and I think those were the best works presented of BSA 'LEGAL'.

Fisherman portrait by Yatzy

David Hasselhoff on duty by LaStaa

Earlier on I wrote about the 'exhibition' in the old paint factory, and found the abandoned buildings great for street art inside. A perfect venue for BSA, but probably did not reach a large audience and sadly destroyed after brief time by other vandals. USF is a major institution for art, film and music in Bergen, and in this respect a very good venue for showing street art when it comes to reaching a larger audience. That's the biggest achievement of 'LEGAL'. And maybe others, talented, will be inspired to do art in the streets. 

Moving inside: Streetart for sale!

          I was happy when I got to know about StreetSmart, and exhibition event with local and international Street Art artists here in Bergen. "Bergen Kjøtt" in Sandviken was a perfect venue. 11 artists with 40 works all together. Prizes in the range of about 110 pounds to 9000 pounds.  As a fan of of outdoor street art. I have mixed feelings about moving this kind of works inside, into the galleries and into a commercial setting. As a traveller, and a frequent visitor of galleries, I love art both inside and outside. When I left the Street Smart exihibition yesterday, I still had mixed feelings. Some works did work, and some did not. The highlights for me at this exhibition was the works by L.E.T.  As far as I know, L.E.T. is a franco/german street art artist based in Düsseldorf. I´ve never seen his work outside.

Works by L.E.T.: I´m so angry I made a sign!

 Martin Whatson and DotDotDot is two norwegian artists that was well represented at the exhibition. I love both artists outside works, but inside? Actually not. I just dont think its good enough and/or original enough. Both artists uses a lot of references to art (popart and street art) in their works which makes them recognisable, but these references is used so frequently that it becomes boring. 

Their more famous brothers Banksy and Dolk do the same references with succes, but in a very unique way. 

In the middle: Match This by DotDotDot

Both artists had similar stencils in different sizes, but why is it so that a big piece is so much more expensive? Repetition is a part of the Street Artist´s "weapon and teqnique" and is best in the streets (outside) because the environment makes all the difference. At this exhibition it looked more like a commercial need. And artists have to survive too :-), I guess and use their momentum (with reference to mr. brainwash).

Two of the biggest works: Martin Whatson to the left and DotDotDot to the right

The venue "Bergen Kjøtt" was great and the works nicely placed and very well organized. I missed a folder or an info paper with small presentations of the artists. it´s a great initiativ from Goblin.mag and I hope they will do this more and better. My wish would be less focus on sale and more focus on presenting street art with more long term exihibitions. This exhibition lasted only two days. 

 The exhibition also worked as a sosial gathering and a meeting place! It was nice to spend some hours there!

One of the most interesting works (from a local point of view) was the piece made by Argus outside on the wall. A comment to the exhibition? I wonder when we finally will see Argus inside....