Sweden

Subterms

    Latest story

    63 Shares99 Views

    Artscape 2022 in Kiruna, Sweden

    by

    Far up in the north of Sweden, Kiruna, a mining town inside the Arctic Circle, is relocating its entire central district due to expanding mining operations. As the locals prepare to say goodbye to an area that’s been downtown for more than a 100 years, Artscape is preparing a mural project based on the people of Kiruna’s collective memory.Through interviews, hundreds of stories and anecdotes have been gathered. A selection will feature in a book of memories, and from those pages the chosen artists will find their inspiration for six new large-scale murals that will adorn Kiruna from August and onwards. More

    More stories

    • 88 Shares169 Views

      in Street Art

      “Sky Dancer” by DALeast in Borås, Sweden

      by

      International street artist DALeast recently worked on a project with Artscape Festival in Borås, Sweden. The wall was painted 7 years ago by DALeast himself as part of NoLimit Festival in 2015 – but the facade had to be renovated in 2019. Today we have images of a newly repainted wall by DALeast – a rendition of the previous “Sky Dancer” mural.“As far as I can remember, this could be the first time I painted the same wall twice. The previous mural was made 7 years ago, then the city’s university had to repair and cover this library facade with my painting in 2019 due to the building’s renovation. This wall has been empty for the past 3 years, and people have requested their city to bring me back to repaint it. Finally, the conditions are aligned this year. So I decided to create a continuing version of the same sky dancer that’s soaring up and transforming through two stills. The image changes through time as well as the artist. Although it appears that I haven’t done as much external work in recent years, I sense that by not doing much, I am actually doing a lot for change. At least the old habit is peeling off. While this new piece continues to call for the openness that sparked a decade ago, the gap between subject and object is becoming softer and blurrier; edges are merging into one another. The elements keep transforming and dancing through the space, becoming the space.A big thanks to @Artscape_festival for organizing this project and to everyone who helped make this into fruition. As well as the love and support of the people in Borås and Sweden. Thank you for opening up the sky for possibilities, this surely inspires me.” -DALeastCheck out below for more photo of the mural. More

    • 100 Shares119 Views

      in Street Art

      “Sweet Freedom” by Max Sansing in Gothenburg, Sweden

      by

      This summer Swedish street art organisation Artscape joined the city of Gothenburg to help the city celebrate its 400-year anniversary. American artist Max Sansing created the eighth and finishing mural artwork ’Sweet Freedom’, making his first mark on European soil.Sansing has in the last few years become one of the US most prominent urban artists seamlessly blending his roots in graffiti with classic figurative oil painting aesthetics and strong symbolism. His colourful expression, often featuring portraits of young black people, has now found its way to the neighbourhood of Biskopsgården, placed on the public sports hall at one of the local elementary schools.“To be able to invite Max Sansing feels amazing. He is a politically conscious artist who unites symbolism, realism and expressive colours in a truly inspiring way and it will put Biskopsgården on the international art scene”, says Daniel Wakeham one of Artscape’s founders.Max Sansing received his informal training on the Chicago graffiti scene and has since then graduated from American Institute of Art. Aside from his murals he has had work on display in galleries reaching from Washington to Miami. For ’Sweet Freedom’, Sansing took inspiration both from Swedish nature and the Ghanesian expression Sankofa, translating roughly to connecting to your past for wisdom.The mural was made possible through a generous grant by the Sten A Olsson foundation for culture and science. “The art Artscape produces is free and available to all and through art their aim is to include and inspire. Our hope is that this joint effort will help to create a sense of pride and positive identity in Biskopsgården” comments chairman of the board Madeleine Olsson.“Biskopsgården is an area where hardly any of the events surrounding the 400th anniversary take place. A big and impressive work of art in the neighbourhood can both bring new visitors as well as underline a sense of community in the area. We’re really grateful for the support of Stenastiftelsen making this mural possible”, adds Tor Hedendahl, one of Artscape’s founders.The three storey high work of art was finished in September, being the latest piece in the region’s ever expanding collection of international street art. Before flying back home Sansing praised the Swedish working environment for how free he was to follow his creative intuition. “I didn’t even need to show a sketch and could figure stuff out as I went along. I kind of want to take this mural home with me. It was something special.” More

    • 100 Shares99 Views

      in Street Art

      “Embrace for Landing” by D*FACE in Gothenburg, Sweden

      by

      British artist D*Face’s latest work is unveiled in Gothenburg, Sweden, as part of the city’s 400th anniversary last May 31st. Urban art organization Artscape, curator behind the mural, sees this as yet another addition to the region’s ever expanding collection of international street art.In the midst of covid lockdowns and restrictions, urban art organisation Artscape has managed to get several of the world’s top street artists to Sweden to make their mark. In May this year nine artists have been invited to Gothenburg as part of the city celebrating 400 years. Among these names is street art veteran D*Face, who is invited to create a mural on the international airport of Landvetter.– 2021 has been another tough year for cultural events. Being able to present a brand new public mural by international heavyweight D*Face feels amazing, says Artscape’s cofounder Daniel Wakeham.London based artist D*Face has been creating pop and punk art inspired works of art since the late 90’s and have paved the way for the urban art movement both in his hometown and globally. His works have been exhibited from Reykjavik to Taipei.His latest mural “Embrace for Landing” faces the main entrance at Landvetter airport, greeting all travelers on arrival. A couple is depicted, held in an embrace and mysteriously looking out into the distance, painted in D*Face’s iconic style.Beside constituting a new cultural landmark, it encompasses an ambitious project initiated by Artscape to unite the region’s vast amount of street art, and promote it as a world leading destination for urban art. Several large-scale projects hosted by both Artscape and local curators in the region have brought a significant number of murals, enough to compete with other international street art cities. The initiative – West Sweden Street Art Trail (WSSAT) – aims to gather the works of artists such as Smug, Dulk and Rone in an easily accessible digital platform and map.What’s happening here in this region is a joint effort by artists, cities and the communities where public art is brought forward to the benefit of everyone. D*Face is one of many artists, both local and international, joining us in this venture to bring art closer to the people, explains Tor Hedendahl, one of Artscapes’ founders.The West Sweden Street Art Trail is just a natural extension of our core idea: to make art accessible to the public, adds Daniel Wakeham.The mural of D*Face was inaugurated on 31 May by Artscape together with the mayors of Gothenburg and Borås, the director of Landvetter airport and the artist himself.Take a look below to see more photos of the project. More

    • 75 Shares169 Views

      in Street Art

      Mural by Astro in Linköping, Sweden

      by

      French street artist Astro just finished his first mural in Linköping, a city in southern Sweden. This mural was done in collaboration with Artscape Festival.

      b-sm = 300×250; sm > none;

      Astro created his first graffiti art in 2000 in the northern suburb of Paris. Focusing on lettering and Wildstyle at first, this self-taught and passionate artist brings his knowledge and technique towards an abstract art which mixes curves, calligraphy and dynamic shapes.

      Inspired by artists such as Hartung, Vasarely and Mucha, Astro has created his own world by exploiting the subtlety of shadows and lights, the strength of colours, and the perspective of depths.
      At ease with large formats, through walls on which he inscribed his art in the heart of the city, this muralist also likes working in a studio. Thanks to the spontaneous and impulsive imprint which characterizes him, Astro deceives the viewer’s eye by distorting the flatness of facades and paintings, creating impressive optical illusions. More