In the dead of night, observant residents of Stavanger have noticed that an enormous work of art has taken shape on the harbor silos outside the city centre. The silos have been covered by a cross-legged farmer wearing the characteristic Felleskjøpet suit. Perhaps not so surprising, since it is Felleskjøpet Agri that owns the silos. During the last few days, the artwork has been signed by the street artist Pøbel, who also received a lot of attention for his giant mural of football profile Erling Braut Haaland. – I have a personal connection to the area as I have had a studio in the neighboring building. I have therefore wanted to paint the silos for over ten years, says Pøbel to news. On Saturday, the gigantic work of art was finally “unveiled”. It happened when a person in a wolf mask abseiled down from the tower after painting the very last piece. The man with the wolf mask is not supposed to be Pøbel himself, news is told. Pøbel has never revealed his identity publicly. A mysterious person is finally putting his hand to work on the grain silo in east Stavanger. Photo: Odd Rune Kyllingstad / news 3,600 square meters The mural is 3,600 square meters in size, which according to Pøbel makes this Norway’s largest mural, and one of the largest in Europe. According to a quick search on Google, the largest mural in Norway is currently the decoration of Ballstad slip in Lofoten. It is 3,000 square meters in size. – The most extreme thing about this wall is that we have had very generous sponsors and partners. The artist Pøbel does not want to say what the message behind the painting is. Photo: Odd Rune Kyllingstad / news According to the artist, they have lined up everything from simple everyday equipment, Norway’s largest lift, barracks, trailers, ferry transport and paint. They also had to use a separate barge at one point, so that the weight of the quay would not be exceeded, and some of the painting has taken place by abseiling. – In any case, it was the first time in Norwegian history that a 58-metre-high lift has stood on a floating barge and swayed in the waves from passing boats. It was interesting to say the least, says Pøbel. The wall required approximately 800 liters of paint and 170 hours of work at the silos. Photo: Thomas Ystrøm / news Photo: Thomas Ystrøm / news Photo: Thomas Ystrøm / news Photo: Hanne Høyland / news Pøbel does not yet want to say what the message behind the painting is. This is the last work to be carried out in connection with the street art festival “Nice Surprise”, which is organized by Tore Pang, Atle Østrem, Izabell and Pøbel. – The aim was to paint the largest mural in the country, and so far we have not found anything bigger, says Tore Arholm Tobiassen, better known as Tore Pang. Tore Arholm Tobiassen, better known as Tore Pang, is one of the organizers of the festival. Photo: Hanne Høyland / news Attractive location The grain silo in Stavanger looked out for Pøbel early in the process. And he was clear that this was where he wanted his work. Many have tried to gain access to the wall in the past, according to Tobiassen, without Felleskjøpet saying yes. Pøbel has previously taken up residence at the same silos, and run a light show with various Donald Trump figures. In addition, he has also climbed over a barbed wire fence to paint a motif of Freya the walrus in the same place. – This time I asked, and was greeted with a smile and my own key to the gate, says Pøbel. The owners do not interfere Felleskjøpet is also tight-lipped when asked why exactly Pøbel got access to the wall. In an e-mail to news, Sigbjørn Vedeld, who is a senior advisor at Felleskjøpet Agri, writes that they have not focused on the artistic process. As long as the HSE measures are taken care of during the work, they are satisfied. Pøbel has put his stamp on the artwork. Photo: Thomas Ystrøm / news The Stavanger harbor silo has been owned by the company since 2014. It is currently in use as a commercial warehouse in Felleskjøpet’s goods flow. The silo was built in 1965, and has a storage capacity of 195,000 tonnes. The Stavanger harbor silo may be demolished in the long run, but that does not worry the festival organizer. – That’s how street art is. Street art disappears and is not something that should last forever, says Tobiassen. The street art festival “Nice Surprise” took over the municipal funds Nuart has received in the city in previous years. The recent festival has provided new works around the city during the summer. Only a few hundred meters from the grain silo is this controversial work from the street art festival. Photo: Hanne Høyland / news Pøbel explains that this is the largest work of art he has made, but that it is far from the most extreme. – I have been chased through a slum in China and have been worried about being shot by the police on Hollywood Boulevard in California, he says to news. It is currently uncertain what message the street art has, but it is clear that it is a person in a Felleskjøpet suit holding a sign. Photo: Thomas Ystrøm / news
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Pøbel has created Norway’s largest mural on the grain silos in Stavanger – news Rogaland – Local news, TV and radio
