The matter in summary: Colorful stickers have appeared on signs and bus boxes in Ålesund and several other cities in recent years, something that many believe ruins the view. Ålesund municipality believes it has gotten worse in recent years and calls the sticker littering. Laima Nomeikaite, who has researched street art and cultural heritage, says that stickers have become part of the street art movement. Tourists in Ålesund are interested in the distinctive Art Nouveau style, but many are not as enthusiastic about the sticker. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAI. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. There is a unique view of the fjord, boats and old sea houses in the center of Ålesund. But on signs and boss boxes, an extra element has appeared in recent years: colorful stickers. – It ruins the nice view here. When you want to take nice pictures of Brosundet, it doesn’t look that nice, says Ingvild Starheim. Ingvild Starheim thinks the sticker ruins the view. Here together with their children, Aksel and Ida Starheim Thunem. Photo: Frederik Winness Ringnes / news She nods towards the lamp post which is full of grotesque stickers, and which is located right next to the strait where many people want to secure a glimpse of Ålesund. The mother of small children receives support from Sigrid Holen from Bergen, who is passing through. She has seen stickers in all colors and shapes in several cities. Many are old and decrepit and are stuck on top of each other. – I think I don’t think they should do it. It ruins the overall image. They become faded and ruined, and then it’s just not something nice to look at, says Sigrid Holen from Bergen. Sigrid Holen has seen many stickers both in her hometown of Bergen and in Ålesund. She thinks it’s ugly. Photo: Frederik Winness Ringnes / news Not happy about the trend Ålesund municipality also thinks it’s a shame and says it has gotten worse in recent years. The problem is also big in Oslo, where municipal officials do not hesitate to call the stickers littering. Head of department Pål Gåseidnes says he does not understand why people paste down the city. – We think little of that. It is quite unnecessary, we think, because it imposes a maintenance cost and replacement cost on us which is quite unnecessary. And it’s not something nice to look at either, he says firmly. Head of department Pål Gåseidnes is not happy that people stick stickers on the municipality’s boss cans and lampposts. He asks them to leave. Photo: Frederik Winness Ringnes / news Is there a problem with the sticker? Yes, it’s actually really ugly with all those stickers No, it’s very good that people can express themselves in different ways What’s the problem? Show result – Littering Stickers around the city is also a problem for Bergen municipality. They encourage people to respect public and historic areas. Especially in places like Bryggen, which is a Unesco world heritage site, stickers and posters will contribute to littering which reduces the aesthetic and historical value, they believe. Stickers on stop signs in Bergen. Many posters have also been put up in the center of Bergen. In Bergen, a sticker from Molde football club has been hung up. – Things must not be pasted up on public property without permission, so this is not okay to do. In some cases, stickers can be perceived as visual pollution, says Johanne Jensen Vikeså in the Transport Section in Bergen. – Part of the cityscape Laima Nomeikaite has researched street art and cultural heritage and says that stickers have become part of the street art movement. – Street artists use stickers to convey humorous, sarcastic or political messages, at the same time they share works of art or promote their own art, she says. – But the municipality and some residents will probably think that it is littering and unwanted vandalism? – The border is fluid for what constitutes art, vandalism and advertising, but stickers are part of the cityscape and our everyday experience, she says. She says stickers probably first appeared in ancient Egypt. Laima Nomeikaite has researched street art. Photo: Iselin Kristiansen More about the history of the sticker Laima Nomeikaite is a cultural researcher and social geographer. She has a cotutelle PhD degree in cultural studies and performance design from Roskilde University and the University of Southeast Norway. She wrote this about stickers: Definition: A sticker is a small piece of paper or plastic with a picture or writing on one side and glue on the other side. Brief history: Stickers have a surprisingly long and fascinating history that spans several centuries. Historians believe that they originate from ancient Egypt. In ancient Egypt, merchants used stickers to mark goods and indicate origin or ownership. In addition to the commercial purpose, antique stickers were also used for religious and ceremonial purposes. In the 20th century, stickers became integrated into pop culture and politics, but also became an important tool for advertising and branding, among other things for sports, music and the film industry. Political campaigns often used stickers as a means of promoting candidates and political messages. What is it an expression of? Today, stickers are part of the urban space, and can have various and mixed functions both in the form of advertisements, brands, logos, plaques, street art, political campaigns and expressions of environmental movements. Since the end of the 1990s, stickers have become an integral part of the street art movement. Street artists use stickers to convey humorous, sarcastic or political messages, while also sharing artwork or promoting their own art. But not everyone cares. Bus driver Dagfinn Warren has a good view behind the wheel and thinks the sticker may have gotten bigger, but doesn’t think it’s a big deal. – It’s fine for me, there is no problem for me, he says. Bus driver Dagfinn Warren doesn’t bother with the sticker. He basically thinks that people should do what they want. Photo: Frederik Winness Ringnes / news Frida Storm Hanssen (21) says she usually looks after herself when she’s out and about. She is not too happy to see lampposts with old and new stickers layer upon layer. – When it becomes as much as this, I don’t think it’s as nice. But if there are only a few stickers that might have some meaning, and that can look aesthetically pleasing, I think that’s fine. Frida Storm Hanssen thinks it can work with stickers, if there aren’t too many. Photo: Frederik Winness Ringnes / news Refuses to call it art On the streets of Ålesund, tourists are very interested in the distinctive art nouveau style, which characterizes the buildings in the centre. The sticker element was not as well liked. There are several people who laugh at the claim that the stickers can be street art. 9-year-old Ine Starheim Thunem is clear in her judgement: – It’s ugly, she says bluntly. Ina Starheim Thunem (9) is not happy to see the sticker in her hometown of Ålesund. Photo: Frederik Winness Ringnes / news Sigrid Holen from Bergen is a few years older, but suggests that she herself may be of the wrong generation. – I wouldn’t call that art, that’s for sure. – But can you understand that some people think that this is a valuable form of expression? – No, short and sweet, she laughs. Published 12.08.2024, at 18.08
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Ålesund center flooded with stickers – people are dissatisfied – news Møre og Romsdal – Local news, TV and radio
