There is a house....

There is a house... in the Lofoten Islands, on Gimsøy (Gims island). Gimsøy is on of the smallest islands in Lofoten, but really beautiful and Hov in the northern part is a perfect spot for watching the midnight sun.

The house has been abandoned for years. Gimsøy, as many areas along the coast of Northern Norway experiences depopulation and today only 206 people lives on the Island.

Dolk and Pøbel have painted abandoned houses in Lofoten for years and by this work, they have raised awareness about depopulation and decay in rural parts of Norway

Work by Pøbel

It's difficult to think of a better scenery than Lofoten. The nature and light is awesome. This house had a pretty anonymous life, left alone to dacay untill the street artists found their way, and today the house is a landmark in the area.

Most of the works of Dolk and Pøbel is gone now, most of them degraded by the of harsch climate of the north. It may look beautiful on a quite summer day with light around the clock, but most of the year it's dark, windy, cold and rainy.

I wonder if people will come back, restore the house and live here again. I don't know, but there are an increasing interest too save and live in these houses, at least part of the year and people from the south of Norway is buying up property in the north as vacation homes.

The work by Pøbel is one of the best preserved street art pieces and one of the few left in Lofoten.

Puppy Love

Sometimes one finds a treasure out there and I found one in Barcelona. it's not a treasure of money, not of any value, unless one loves art, art in the streets. On my trip to Barcelona I found an old Dolk stencil in the dark and gothic part of the city.

The stencil is quite small and hard to find. It depicts a puppy riding R2D2. Dolk humor at it's best. Beside the Dolk stencil it's an old stencil by C215 too. Patners in crime :-).

I've seen the same stencil here in Bergen many times, as I walked by on my way to work every day. One day it was gone. The stencil was illegal and the new house owner painted over the stecil. I guess the owner regrets that today, since the value and recognition of Dolks work have raised noticeably over time. And I was sad because another piece of street art had disapeared from our streets. I never photographed the "puppy love" stencil in Bergen and I regret that today. On that day, I decided to start documenting street art by photographing the work in Bergen (and later rest of the world :-)). I think it's just a collectors instinct in me, and when I found the old Dolk stencil in Barcelona my heart was filled with joy. Even if the piece is not one my faviourite Dolk pieces, and either especially spectacular, big or advanced, seeing it in a small and narrow street in Barcelona, was like finding a hidden gem, a treasure.

In 2007 the Difusor Stencil Art Festival went down in Barcelona. Around 100 stencil artists from all around the world teamed up and sprayed a whole weekend away. Dolk participated on Difusor and I think that the "Puppy Love" stencil stems from that festival. Dolk did several pieces at the festival, but I think "Puppy Love" is the only one who has survived to present day.  

Street Art is temporal, some works lasts for a few hours and others last for years. One never knows.

Dolk follow up

In a previous post I wrote about the trial to cut out a Dolk work from a wall in Bergen, but the the piece was bombed and destroyed before the extraction was finnished. Seems like Dolk him self followed this up and is cashing in himself from the incident.

The bombed Dolk piece to the left and a new stencil piece saluting to the right (artist unknown)

Dolk him self made a new "Bombed boy soldier" on canvas that is now exhibited on Kode 4 (Bergen Art Museum). If you got about 30 000 us dollars or 22 000 euros you can buy the artwork. It seems like it's Dolk that can laugh all the way to the bank now.

The canvas piece for sale to the left, and the original street art piece to the right

Another DOLK work gone

the original Dolk Stencil

A classical Dolk stencil in the streets of Bergen is gone. The drummer boy marching towards a landmine refers to the traditional children brigades in Bergen marching in the streets of Bergen every spring. Loved by many, but also hated because of the noise they make in the streets on weekend mornings.

The stencil, made illegaly, have stayed for years but recently the owner of the building started to cut the piece out of the wall. The owner claims that the reason was to preserve the work, and everybody else thought it was done for economical reasons.

Vandalized and gone!

However, somebody wanted otherwise and destroyed the work with white paint before the the house owner finnished the extraction. A sad, but understandable action. An action against privatization of street art and economical motives for street art theft. Thats the second Dolk piece that disappears from the streets of Bergen lately. See my earlier post on street art theft.

Street Art theft!!

Street art enthusiasts connected to Kunstveggen, along with the local council, got the idea of trying to preserve street art originally made illegal by Dolk and Pøbel around In Bergen city. The council gave 50 000 krones (about 8500 dollars) for the purpose. The result is that officials glued plexiglas on ten street art works.

The idea and protection plan is controversial among street art interests.  A local street art blog, Mot Veggen, argued against the this type of protection for two main reasons. The first reason is that street art is ment to be temporary and second, the protection of certain "valuable" street art works would draw unwanted attention to the works. It seems like the like the blog was right. Few days after the protection plan became public through local media, a work by Dolk, "Grenade Lovers" was stolen from the streets of bergen.

The stolen piece"Grenade Lovers" by Dolk

Now there is just a wooden plate where the Dolk piece where done about 8 years ago outside a pub in Bergen and a part of street art culture is gone. Part of Dolk's talent was/is to pick locations for his works and now the place looks sad and empty.

There is a price of 30 000 krones (about 5100 dollars) to those who can find the work, but local media speculates that the piece may be worth about 200 000 krones (about 34000 dollars). It's no coincidence between the protection plan and the theft. Theft? Well, the owner of the building is unsure. He have not really thought of this work as his belonging. It was made without his permission and is unsure if he can report this to the Police as stolen property. I don't know what the law text says about this, but he got a point. The city have never claimed ownership of the piece either. So, no one really owns this. The thieves have stolen something that don't belong to anyone, but something that belongs to everyone, me included. And I think that the thieves should give it back.

Steel plate placed where the Pøbel work used to be

It's not the first time someone removes street art works from the streets of Bergen. A piece by Pøbel was removed early spring. There are thieves of street art and the sad part is that there probably are buyers.

The stolen Pøbel piece

Summer 2012 Banksy made the work below in North London, later it was stolen, cut out of the wall. The community started to demonstrate, claiming the work back on their street. Later the piece was exhibited in Wynwood, Miami Basel in US for sale on an auction. The street art piece had been stolen by the owners of the wall (the building) in London. The reactions among people in London and US where strong, and the work was withdrawn from the auction. Later, on a private auction in London in June 2013, the work was sold for more than a million pounds. Read a BBC report here.

Image of the Banksy original VIA www.liveauctioneers.com "Slave labor"

In february 2013 I took this photo in London where the original "Slave Labour" work by Banksy where placed

Street art can be an easy target for theft because the works are made in public places for everyone. Unless the artist makes huge works on thick concrete walls! At least, that will make theft really hard.

I call him Bansky!

- Hey!! Do you know who did this?
- Eh?
- I met the guy who did this, I own the building!
- It's DOLK!
- Yeah, he is a mystery guy Ah? Just like Bansky.
- Mm... Banksy
-  Whatever! Where u from?
- Norway! Just like DOLK
- And u come all the way from Norway to see this?
- Eh.. yeah! And New York of course!
- Tell Dolk that I keep his work there for at least 50 years, yes forever!
- Well... I probably never meet him....but you have to keep his work, that's a good thing!
- Yeah! And when I meet Banksy, I will call him Bansky
-Ok!

The owner starts up his car and I shoot some more photos. This piece of work outside is just awesome and location is perfect. I'm in East Williamsburg, New York City. I'ts September and the weather is still warm.

The streets of New York are incredibly long and I have walked around for hours and my feets are hurting. But I don't care because it's so much to see, to take in and discover.

Williamsburg is one of Brooklyn's most exciting neighborhoods and straddles old and new, commerce and alternative. It's a lively arts and music scene here and numerous small galleries, cafes and restaurants.

I rest my legs at a gallery/cafe/music venue and soak up the creative energy.

I love Dolk Outside! And finding this piece made my day. As far as I know Its the only Dolk piece left (outside) in Brooklyn and goes back to 2010.

Wildlife

A classic black and white stencil, a colored one and a toy version. One collector bought them all.

Dolk have moved inside. It's cosy and warm to see his works on a white wall in well a organized environment like the gallery. However, maybe freezing and wet, it's quite extraordinary and unique to gaze his illegal works otside. The works outside do not belong to anyone. It's for all and it is free. Outside is more wild and exiting. In a interview with local press Dolk says that he does'nt do illegal works anymore, but also states that he everyday sees walls around in town that he would like to paint. So there is hope.

Did Dolk kill street art with this piece?

 The "Wildlife" exhibition is regarded as the most successful exhibition in Bergen ever, by public interest and economically. Almost all the works were sold before the doors opened. About 30 000 to 50 000 dollars for each piece.

Classical cu

t outs by Dolk All three of them originally done illegal in Bergen

A new development in Dolk's art is installations. He exhibits two pieces this time. "Puppy Love" and "Goldrush".

"Puppy love" was originally made as a stencil. R2D2 is mounted by a dog (or wolf)

"Goldrush" is a wild bull crushing slot machines

I still think that Dolk's art is best outside, best as street art. The exhibition is interesting because it shows some developments in his art and and style. I think the figures or motives in newer pieces is more "seriocomical" now than before. I think earlier pieces was more warmer, and sometimes just clever and witty.

This piece is named "Dear Flasher" and was bought by a russian collector

This work is called "3D"

I'm was not suprised by this exhibition. I smiled a bit, but did not laugh. I reflected on some of the works, but they did not make me puzzled. And I was not excited.

Framed Dagger!

The piece isn't signed, but it smells argus!

A funny street art peace popped up in town yesterday. A framed "golden dagger"! The norwegian word for dagger is "Dolk". Dolk is in town and has his first solo show in Bergen called "Wildlife" at Gallery S.E. It's worth a visit. Dolk is showing original stencil works on canvas and a couple of installations. I think that Dolk found a nice venue for marking his 10 year anniversary. News can tell that he has sold for about one million dollars on his first solo show in Bergen. Hence, the "golden dagger".

Dolk "Wildlife" exhibition at Gallery S.E

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)

Dolk: Girl with Megaphone

Dolk Stencil in Stavanger

Street art is a genre were the work outside on the wall is done in seconds, often at night time when darkness and shadows hides the identity of the maker. When the city wakes up, and people buzz around to work, to school, to the bus etc. their environment is changed, a wall have been decorated with something for them to see. It's not a commercial,  a poster or an info board, but street art signed by a pseudonym.

Before this happens, the street art maker have planned this process carefully. The creative process, the idea work and equipment is important. Dependent on style/technics, the street artist make sketches, drawings, prints, cut out stencils, mix wheat paste and choose the right spray paints and colours at home (street artists usually can't afford studios). The placement is important. Its important to be seen (a busy place) and is important to find a place where the work will stay for a while (not painted over or removed at once by angry owners or officials). The street artist also have to take into account CCTV cameras and quick escape routes if detected by security, police or property owners.

The difference between street art and more traditional gallery art is that street art often gives an immediate impression or message to the bypassers which is both recognizable and "food for thought" at the same time. Street art is often simple in style, use iconic images or symbols. Sometimes critical, subversive and satirical. The works challenge our minds, values and ideas. Street art is "anti-commercial", often using similar visual effects and strategies in the public space as the commercial industry.

I think this Paste-up by ICON I found in London is a good example of a classical street art work

However, much has changed the last decade, and the difference between street art, modern art, conceptual art, public art and commercialism is more blury. Today street art as a culture have elements that is both legal and illegal, political and non-political, figural and abstract, small and big, urban and rural, wanted and unwanted, commercial and non commercial, some works is made in seconds and some takes days etc. Many street artists do work both outside and inside (in galleries and in public buildings). What's the difference between street art and vandalism? It's not an easy question to answer because it depends on the eye of the beholder. Today, Dolks street art is highly regarded in Bergen (and internationally) and the works that are left in the streets are preserved, even if this was made illegaly in the first place and previously was regarded as vandalism.

The photo above, showing a girl with a megaphone, I took in Stavanger 2011. This girl have something important to say. To whom? Dolks works often challenge our minds, both on a personal and societal level. See also a previous post about Dolk. Together with this comes "Message in a bottle" with The Police (Click on the link or the "play" button in the box below)

Dolk: The pay phone!

This is one of the most well preserved stencil in the streets of Bergen made by Dolk. I took the picture on an october night in 2011 on my way home from town. It's located, pretty hidden, in a backyard near the legendary pub Garage. I'm not sure when this was made, but its a long time since Dolk did work in the streets of Bergen (Norway). I read somewhere that he did his last works here around 2006. Not because he stopped doing street art, quite contrary. In 2006 he was invited by Banksy to London to join the "Santa's Ghetto" festival. Since then, Dolk have worked all over the world at street art festivals and exhibitions. Today he is among the world's most recognised street artists. Since 2008, he has also taken street art out of it's urban environment and given lots of recognition for his works on deserted wooden houses at the rural coast of Lofoten (Norway).

Dolk Lundgren was born in Bergen 1979 and little is known publicly about his background. Dolk Lundgren is a pseudonym, his signature, from the days he did illegal works in the streets of Bergen. Despite his fame as an artist, he has kept his real identity hidden from the general public.

Dolk's images are highly thought through and gives an imediate reaction or perception that stays with you long after you've walked past. Their sometimes funny and contradictory in style; Combining iconic figures, persons or symbols with a touch of sarcasm as a comment on actual issues or more enduring issues in society. E.g. when he pictured Prince Charles with a Burger King hat. Another line of his images often have an emotional undertone that supports the lonely, the different and the neglected soul (often a child). I think the image above is along that line.

Dolk Lundgren lives in Melbourne where he study art and travel the world doing art on the streets! Along with this image I choose Decoder Ring feat. Lenka (from the movie Somersault): Somersault (Score) (Click on the link or the "play" button in the box below to listen).