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Oslo, Home of the Spray Can
Did you know that the spray can was invented in Oslo?
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New 87 square meter mural unveiled
Published: 23 September 2024
Text: Anne-Marie Korseberg Stokke
Photo: Tekna
If you continue along Gaustadalléen past the entrance to Oslo Science Park, you can now see an original artwork by the renowned British artist Xenz. The mural is a gift to Oslo from the Tekna Oslo department.
The mural was officially unveiled and signed on Friday, September 6, during an event that allowed attendees to hear directly from the artist about his vision and creative process.
“I often start with a loose sketch that serves merely as a guide,” Xenz explained. “As I work, I adapt the image, allowing the wall and its surroundings to ‘speak’ to me.”
The artwork features a waterfall cascading through a landscape rendered in hues of green, blue, and white, inspired by the Frogner River and the perspectives found in traditional Japanese art. Xenz sought to evoke the sensation of a journey through a landscape—climbing a hill, confronting obstacles and challenges—much like the journey of the entrepreneurs in Oslo Science Park.
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The Artist Behind the Mural
Xenz, whose real name is Graeme Brusby, is educated at the Edinburgh College of Art and has worked as an artist for over 20 years. He began with graffiti at the age of 14, painting on walls of abandoned warehouses in Hull, England. Over time, he has developed a unique and experimental style, using spray cans to paint landscapes inhabited by birds and butterflies.
"For me, graffiti is like a bird or a flower from a faraway place that you don't usually see. I’ve always been fascinated by the irony that a spray can can be used both to beautify and to deface. Ultimately, though, I find joy in creating beautiful art.”
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Xenz adding the finishing touches.
Norwegian Invention
The "canvas" for this mural, the wall on the west side of Oslo Science Park, measures 87 square meters. About 60 cans of spray paint were used, and the work took a week from start to finish.
"The mural adds something extra to the building and helps reflect all the exciting things taking place here. In addition to being a small art experience for passersby, it can also spark curiosity about what is going on inside the building," says Sigurd Reistad Klæva from Oslo Science Park.
In a previous collaboration, Oslo Science Park teamed up with VisitOslo to feature street artist Martin Whatson on a wall on the building’s east side. Currently, they are engaged in a three-year partnership with Street Art Oslo, celebrating the intersection of art and technology. This initiative has culminated in the exhibition “Oslo, Home of the Spray Can,” which will be on display until September 2024.
This year marks a significant milestone for Tekna, the union representing natural scientists, engineers, and students, as it celebrates its 150th anniversary. The organization chose to commemorate this occasion by gifting Oslo the new mural.
“The artwork not only honors the long-standing history of technologists but also pays tribute to the Norwegian invention of the spray can, which has transformed graffiti and street art across the globe,” they shared on Facebook.
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At the unveiling of the mural, the audience had the opportunity to hear the artist himself discuss the vision and process behind the artwork.
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