What is it art about?

I am soon ready to start spreading the word about the web-gallery, The FunFace Brothers. I see that I already had some visitors on the site, and that`s great! So I thought, in the next blog posts coming, I should say some words about what it is that i do. The what, why`s and how`s of it all. But all in good time. Firstly there is a need to build some backstory, so today I will reveal how my early life has influenced me to be the artist I am today;

For as long as I can remember I have had a fascination with humans and their inner lives. As a child I was quiet and introverted and, to my mother’s relief, I would happily play alone in some corner of the room. I rarely cried, but when I did, I cried so intensely that I very often fainted. (It is a condition called “breath-holding spells” and the theory is that some children feel so strongly that they overwhelm themselves crying, loose their breath and consequently faint) I did this 1-2 times per week until I was about 3.

Needless to say, I was a sensitive child, always a bit dreamy and outside the reality around me with a very high level of imagination. I loved observing others while feeling invisible myself. I remember I had problems with obtaining information at school because my mind was elsewhere. Estpecially if the information was of a dry nature, and/or it involved memorizing something. But there was nothing wrong with my ability to concentrate, if the subject matter was creative enough. I could sit with an interesting project for hours and not give up until I was happy with the result.

I also had a very keen sense of touch, smell and hearing. My favourite subject in school was Woodwork. Despite having a teacher i strongly disliked in Woodwork. Shout-out to Frank Lyng at Tromsdalen barneskole. At mathematics you traumatized me, but at woodwork you could not do any harm. In fact I might even say you inspired me.

I would definitely give you Lg in pedagogic (lowest grade in Norwegian school). But you were thorough, and clearly passionate about both Mathematic and Woodwork. To give an example for you readers out there; when preparing a piece of wood for the upcoming project we were forced to use the wood plane tool until the piece was 100% flat. (almost curving inwards we would argue). We would simply not be allowed to continue the project at hand before Frank had carefully inspected the work by slowly running his palm over the surface of every piece and then holding it up in front of his eyes to see if it was completely plane. Ever since then, the sence of quality in a piece of art have been essential in my work. Althrough today most of what I do today is try to break out of the "perfect mold" and make more abstracted and "messy" work, I still think of quality. Only eventually I could also see it as more than just a robust exteriour. For example as quality in terms of meaning and depth, even if it is falling appart in the physical.

But yes, as a child Woodwork was the subject I did best in, and enjoyed the most. Perhaps the, for its physicality. I distinctly remember the smell of fresh wood, and the resistance in the material when I tried to form and sculpt it. I still enjoy that feeling today when I work with wood. Its a kind of fight with the material, where you can only ever partially win. The part you cannot control is also the part that can often surprise you.

I missguidedly chose economic studies in highschool (I thought I wanted to be a secretary with lots of blanc sheets of paper and fresh new pens. An old (very old!) computer and a black suitcase were my very top x-mas presents from when I was only about 11. I understood quickly that I was on the wrong path and dropped out of highschool after the second year. That was the year I turned 18, and I decided to move to Oslo to study art. I started with Holtekilen folk-high school (1-year school for youth who drop out or want something other than the traditional school). And I am glad I did. After finishing that schoolyear I knew I was on my way. I decided to stay in the Oslo area, and worked for a few years full time in different shops, selling clothes tool, jewellery and bartending. After a couple of years I went back to study art in a 2 years vocational art school. (Fabrikken Asker Kunstfagskole FAKS)

In art school I always found the exercises that were more open to personal interpretation or happy accidents most fascinating. I did not like to strive for full control over the mediums, and found the work that was too controlled to be flat and boring. Projects I liked were for example one time when we were asked to use a long bamboo stick, dip it in ink and draw standing up on large papers on the floor with a live model (croquis). The BEST days ever. The drawings came out so crooked and strange and funny, it was wonderful! Exercises like that are what made me fall in love with artmaking.

Directly from FAKS I went to Goldsmiths University in London, where I studied "Art Studio Practice". I was so happy and proud to get into that prestigous school, but sadly I just stayed 1 years in Goldsmiths. A couple of months into my 2nd year I became ill and decided to leave the school and move back home. Life was in shambels.

Later i would get the diagnosis and battled with MS (multiple sclerosis) for years. I then beat cancer while clawing my way to a bachelordegree as an art teacher (took me 5 years instead of 3). Then I braufght 2 children into existence. Then I stopped the MS activity in my brain and spine by undergoing a grueling stemcell transplant in Mexico, getting covid during the worst time thinkable (when my immune defence was= 0). Then I rebuild my mind/body by positive thinking, exercise and healthy eating. And finally now I am starting my own art gallery; The Funface Brothers. Let`s just say, its been a bumpy ride...but I am here now!

Today I am still, and perhaps even more inspired by the complex human condition and people`s inner turmoils in my work. Often especifically in relation to the beautiful and amazing brain brain. Inside our heads we have a beautiful network, continuously spreading signals and beaming in all kinds of directions at once. Making us feel and think all the time, non stop.

I have in my own life often felt overwealmed, wishing I could pause life in some moments. But there is no pause-button in life is there... it just keeps rushing on. And the best one can do is just to try to hold on the best way one can. It is of course not socially accepted to do as I did as a small child, to take a "step to the side" and just observe for a while. Making art is the closest I can come to that meditative state. The creative flow. And it is how I survive.

By taking the stemcell transplant I wiped out my immune system and rebuilt a brand new one. I have slowly repared the nerve endings in the brain or, when the sclerosis block my way, created new alternative pathways in the mind to be able to function the way I want to. In other words; I have had the unique chance of rebuilding not just my life, but my whole neurology! And the more I am learing about my own mind, I am amazed! I practice to calm my mind, compartmentalize my thoughts and tap in to my intuition. And the more I practice, the more I am able to make meaningful art. It feels almost like time itself has to step aside in the moments when I create.

Now I am 44, and finally on the path I was supposed to follow. Step by step, artpiece by artpiece. The best is yet to come!