BOHNE UND EMIL (2022)
Love, peace and freedom – The bohemian artists «Bohne und Emil» are from Germany. They use paper, wood, acrylic and spray when creating their art, and their main message is to spread love, peace, and freedom. Here art is used to fight racism, exclusion, and discrimination. Bohne und Emil have been enjoying painting during the daytime, talking to passers-by and not having to hide while working, like they have to in Germany.
– In Germany it is harder to get a permission from the landlord when creating street art on a building. Therefore, we often must work at night, so nobody can see us. We don’t want to vandalise buildings, so we chose spaces and districts that need some love and care. We try to give these districts new life!
In Scandinavia everything is different. Here people often accept street art being created on their buildings and the street art functions as a “reason to go”, making both locals and visitors come see the art. Having a great collection of street art, like they have in Flekkefjord, is a major “reason to go” to any city or district.
– We were a bit surprised when we checked out this little city, Flekkefjord, and discovered that is one of the most important destinations when it comes to street art. It is at the same level as Oslo, Bergen and Stavanger, the artists conclude enthusiastically.
STADT OHNE STRAND(City without a beach)
This piece of naivistic street art was created in 2022. You will find it in Kildegaten. Two people with crowns, poor when it comes to wealth, but rich in love, are placed in front of a poem that has been written by the artists themselves.
The poem at the fence wall is a direct reference to one of their acquaintances. It is a story about an old man, a landlord who is bored, and has an immense interest in keeping it all neat and tidy around his house. A man who is watching the place at all hours.
The artists admit that the two people in this piece of street art, might look like themselves, in many ways. However, they have not been focussing on giving them an identity. They can be anyone. The two artists always sign with their artist names and two symbol – a heart and a cross. The symbols of love and death.
Curators: Bohne und Emil + Ingvild Valente + Smaabyen Flekkefjord.
