Streetart in Kristiansand

Street art, or street art in English, has gone from meeting almost zero tolerance to being considered a welcome feature in the cityscape. Today, guided tours are arranged through the urban art, and Kristiansand has had its own street art festival. This has attracted world-renowned artists to the southern village, which today offers a great diversity in street art.

Great diversity

Visual artist and street artist Arne Vilhelm Tellefsen organizes both tours and festivals, and has a good overview of the urban art in Kristiansand. The cultural worker both produces, finances and curates street art in his hometown.

"Something that characterizes Kristiansand is a small town center where it is easy to get an overview and move between most things. Here you will find a great diversity, including things you don't see anywhere else. Both amateurs and big international names are represented.”

Tellefsen highlights Liqen's dragon painting and "Flower Girl" by Mark Jenkins as examples of completely unique works in Kristiansand.

"There is starting to be a lot of urban art here, and it is so full in the center that people have started to work in the surrounding districts."

An example is the recently published "Prisoners of the world" by Misprinted, a work about the situation of refugees that can be experienced in connection with a visit to the beach at Hamresanden, not far from Kristiansand Airport.

Newfound respect

Tellefsen's commitment to street art began in 1984. Since then, he has witnessed a positive development.

"Part of my commitment has been to get rid of the zero tolerance we saw before, when people saw all urban art under one roof. Today it is much easier to get permission to create street art. In recent years, most things here in the city have been made legally."

For three years, Tellefsen and the KRS Street art guild (which included Zedin Sunic, Camilla Prytz, Ane Lila Valentina, Terje Andersen and others) collaborated with the Spanish Issac Cordal to curate the street art festival in Kristiansand. This attracted big names to the city, also to individual projects in subsequent years.

"Without Cordal, and his collaboration with big international names, there would not have been as much exciting art in Kristiansand. It has given many people a new relationship with the art they previously saw as harmful."

This is noticeable by the fact that many passers-by stop and chat with artists while they work.

"I think something happens when people get to see street art with their own eyes and have to decide for themselves. Misprinted, who has worked both here and in other cities, says that the audience in Kristiansand is particularly interested and pleasant. In other places, they like to walk by, but here many people stop to have a chat. I myself also experience an overwhelmingly positive response to urban art here in the city. Of all the reactions I have received, I would estimate 90 percent as positive.”

Social art form

The social setting around street art is something that appeals to Tellefsen. He likes to collaborate with school classes or other artists.

"One of the characteristics of street art is that there is often a social setting around the creation of the work. Part of the reason why I started with this art form was that creating art with others is important to me. Urban art also offers a unique opportunity to show off what you make without going through other agencies."

One of the unique things about Kristiansand is the opportunity to experience both forest, sea and urban life in a few minutes. With short distances and straight, clear streets, you can experience a lot in a short time. According to Arne Villhelm Tellefsen, much of the city's street art is curated with the fact that we Norwegians like to walk in the back of our minds.

"Here you can go for as short or as long a walk as you like and experience a lot of art on the way anyway. There is urban art all over the city, but if you wander towards Odderøya, it gets particularly crowded."

According to Tellefsen, the world's largest collection of street art can be found on Instagram. Under the tags #krsgadekunst and #visitkrs you will find some of the urban works here in the city.

"Urban art is incredibly diverse and can be done in many different techniques. What characterizes street art is that it is made outside and that it is temporary."

Tellefsen is attracted by the transitory nature of the art form.

"Unlike public works of art, street art is not protected. You never know how long it will last, it depends on where you make it. That makes it a little extra exciting to have to seek out works to experience them before they disappear."

Taking a walk among the city's street art when on holiday in Kristiansand will surely offer new experiences - every single time you visit the city.

Text: Mai Linn Tronstad

Unites street art and graffiti

Another strong voice in the street art community is Sedin Zunic. Sedin was born in 1981 in Bosnia, came to Norway in 1993 and became involved in the street art and graffiti environment in Kristiansand as a 16-year-old.

He has worked throughout Europe and fought a long battle to create a good environment and legal walls in Kristiansand. Sedin is also the curator and co-owner of the South's only street art gallery Mintstreetart and works with experimental modern art, sculpture, wall painting and installations.

"The art form helped me to be accepted and integrated in Norway." says Sedin.

Today he travels around on various assignments and art is his livelihood.

Street art for everyone

Sedin is also passionate about children and young people and offers workshops to teach street art techniques and make the street art community flourish. Coolart offers courses, workshops and mentoring schemes for children and young people who, in various ways, have ended up outside of normal activity offers.

He is also behind Sea Invaders where art reminds us to take care of the ocean.

“Street art is extremely important for a city. It adds something new, gets the pulse of the city going. It's like when street art comes to the city, it gets eyes, nose and mouth and speaks to the people. Street art is an important part of modern urban development."