GALLERI A: An artistic energy boost

By Eva-Kristin U. Pedersen

Movement, speed and energy. In an upcoming exhibition at Galleri A in Oslo, four street and pop artists interpret the joys and challenges of a world where everything seems to move faster.

“It’s fascinating to work together although we have different styles,” says Lavrans Borgen, the youngest of the four artists that gallerist Andreas Engelstad has brought together for a special exhibition that opens on 11 September.

Borgen, 22, only started painting some five years ago but has enjoyed considerable success. The young painter has been particularly praised for having found his own expression and style right from the onset.

DOTDOTDOT in his studio. Photo: All Rights Destroyed

“My art is figurative, yet abstract and characterised by strong, warm colours. Human beings, especially encounters between human beings, is always the focus,” Borgen explains, adding that he started painting to fill the void from football. This is a choice he has not regretted, and he hopes to inspire others, too, to take up arts.

Borgen is looking forward to the exhibit at Gallery A. “I’m really excited to exhibit together with established artists, the big guys,” Borgen says, smiling.

Eric Ness Christiansen. Photo: Final Outlines

From graffiti to stencils

One of those big guys is DOTDOTDOT. Now one of the pillars of Norwegian street art, DOTDOTDOT started as a graffiti artist. “Like many others, I was young and rebellious but after a while, I realised that creating combinations of letters wasn’t enough,” he explains.

The road from graffiti to stencil art proved relatively short, and DOTDOTDOT says that such public art allowed him to communicate with a wider audience. “Grafitti is for those that do graffiti, and street art is a visual expression that most people can understand,” he stresses.

For someone who used to create art sheltered by the darkness of the night, DOTDOTDOT says that it is moving and inspiring when people line up to see his art. “Street art and society’s response to this art form has evolved a lot. I used to sneak around and into places illegally to paint, now I’m invited to decorate those same spaces,” he says.

DOTDOTDOT at work. Photo: All Rights Destroyed

In spite of his success, DOTDOTDOT is eager to preserve the opportunity to influence public opinion that art offers. “I know that if I really apply myself, and I’m careful about the details, I can create things that engage people to participate rather than to just sit and watch,” he says.

Martin Whatson, another of the contributing artists, agrees that street art has a political edge that is not easily matched by other art forms. “Street art is something you see in the passing. It needs to be able to communicate a message in a few seconds”, Whatson says.

He explains that while political issues were important to him at the onset of his career, he has toned down, but not abandoned, the politics in his later work. “There needs to be something ticklish about it, something that triggers you.”

While most public art is made on large walls, Whatson is happy to exhibit in a gallery as well. “The art that you see in the gallery should look like it’s taken from a wall on the outside,” he says.

Martin Whatson. Photo: Sebastoan Elofson nr. 2

A worthy art form

In the Gallery A exhibition, the four participating artists will contribute both with individual works and with paintings they have worked on together. This provides for a lot of opportunities, says Eric Ness, the fourth artist. “I hope that visitors will experience a real energy boost as they walk through the gallery. Speed and energy are a good common denominator for this exhibition,” Ness says.

Like DOTDOTDOT, Ness has his artistic roots in the graffiti movement. He has made a living as a street artist since he was 16. Since 2014, Ness has been working both as a curator and an artist. He says that street art has travelled on rocky roads to reach where it is today.

“It took time to convince people that street art is a worthy art form. It was difficult to reach a point where we could talk about the artistic expression before we spoke about the politics surrounding it all,” Ness explains, adding that street art has become the art form that documents our time.

To Ness, the spray box gives an unmatched sense of speed and impulsivity that he is excited about showing people. “I really want the spectator to be able to feel what it is like to stand in front of the canvas and create something,” he says.

Eric Ness Christiansen. Photo: Final Outlines

Still possible to strike deals

It is no coincidence that it is Galleri A that organises this exhibition; the Majorstuen gallery has promoted street and pop art in Norway since it opened in 2003. “These are art forms that have become more and more popular, increasingly also with established collectors,” Engelstad explains.

And although prices on street and pop art have risen along with the popularity, Engelstad welcomes potential buyers. “It’s still possible to strike good deals,” he ensures.