HELENE TORKILDSEN (2020-2021-2022-2023)
Helene Torkildsen (b. 2002) was born and raised in Flekkefjord. She was interested in art already as a child, drew a lot and started painting a little later. Helene has studied Art, Design and Architecture in high school, and has also studied "Visual Art" at the culture school in Flekkefjord. In 2021, she began a two-year art course in Stavanger. The artist has won two local prizes in UKM (Ungdommens Kulturmønstring) with her acrylic paintings, and received the Dream Scholarship from Flekkefjord municipality. Helene wants to work in a creative profession. She participated in her first street art project in 2019, when she collaborated with several others from the school of arts under the direction of Joel Toledo, to create the work Flekkefjord, which lights up the playground in Kirkegaten. The following year, she received a project for Smaabyen and Flekkefjord school of arts, which involved decorating the wall alongside Flekkefjord's train track.
GULLTRAPPA (“THE GOLDEN STAIRS”)
2023 - "Gulltrappa" - The lively and colorful work "Gulltrappa" adorns the staircase in Nesgaten 25, in the historic Dutch town, in the city centre of Flekkefjord. The name is a historical nod to the nickname the staircase received, as it is located in one of the town's narrowest streets. This has led to several drivers experiencing costly damages in the form of scratches and dents in their cars. Something that still happens...
The artist was inspired by the old Looney Tunes series. Together with photographer Peter Monstad, she came up with a humorous twist for this artwork:
Now, you may be familiar with the classic illusion trick that Wile E. Coyote used to trick Road Runner into running into a wall; the illusion of a road that just keeps going. Unfortunately, the staircase will still get "unwanted visitors" (scratched and dented cars). But if one were to be a bit unlucky around the bends, it would probably be better to have a certain Wile E. Coyote to blame ("The road kept going in there!"). Of course, I hope that the color scheme will have the opposite effect on accidents, despite the irony involved.
Curators: Peter Monstad and Smaabyen Flekkefjord.
THE BOTANIST
2022 - “The Botanist”, is found at Trelleskaret (close to Trellebakken, Flekkefjord) and was made in 2022 by Helene Torkildsen, commissioned by Trellevika velforening. This piece of mini art is characterised by light colours and humour and has a touch of a fairytale. The botanist is looking for a rare flower, which is sitting on his hat winking to the audience. The flower motif is inspired by its location, as this piece of street art has been painted on a mountain wall, overlooking a flower bed.
- This piece of art is inspired by Sponge Bob Square Pants when it comes to the flowers as well as the clear and bright colours I have used here. As is the case in many of my previous pieces of street art, I wanted to make something simple and colourful, to be enjoyed by the children in the area, says the artist.
Curator: Trellevik velforening.
CHAOS AT THE FIRE STATION
2022 - «Chaos at the Fire Station» is a piece of mini art placed at the 2nd floor at Flekkefjord Sparebank (savings bank) and was made in 2022 by Helene Torkildsen, commissioned by the bank in cooperation with AB Interiør Design. The idea is to cater to the audience’s imagination as well as being both aesthetically pleasing and humorous. The bank wanted a piece of art inspired by fire on the fire doors, in the bank’s own signature colours. This is the idea the artist had behind the art:
I chose to focus on the firefighter, and problems that normally don’t occur. Suddenly, the fire hoses and equipment start living their own lives. They are desperately trying to put out the fire. But without the help of the firemen, everything turns into a chaos!
Curator: Flekkefjord Sparebank og AB Interiør Design.
THE CRANE TRUCK
2021 - Location: Bakkegaten, Flekkefjord. Helene explains how she created: “Kranbilen” - The Crane Truck: «The car is placed close to an excisting hole in the wall. The idea is that the three thieves, dressed in orange, punch a hole in the wall to carry out a robbery. Instead of a regular wreckingball, I have painted a hedgehog fish, and if you look closely, it is not money they are stealing, but shoes. This is because one thief is barefoot on one foot. "What are we going to do with money, when we need something more important?" All these little details are there for the work to have a story, and not least to make it more fun for children. Children often discover things that no one else sees.
Curator: Smaabyen Flekkefjord.
THE HORSE
2021 - Location: Fjellgaten, Flekkefjord, or «Horse Shit Street» as it was previously called. “The street I painted the horse in was formerly called "Hesteskitgata"(“Horse shit street”). Therefore, I thought that a horse was an appropriate object here. I wanted vibrant colors to lighten up the street. If you look closely, you also see a horse-drawn carriage, for a historical reference “, says the artist.
Curator: Smaabyen Flekkefjord.
FLEKKEFJORDBANEN
2020 - Location: Flekkefjordbanen (station), Flekkefjord. The work "Flekkefjordbanen" was commissioned by Smaabyen and Flekkefjord school of arts. The work has historical details from the train track and brightens up the area with strong colors. The artist chose the vibrant colors as the art is close to Sunde elementary school.
She likes to create joyous moments in everyday life.
Curator: Smaabyen Flekkefjord and Flekkefjord school of arts.
