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When Terje Viken (64) saw the painting “Making a martyr” for the first time, he fell madly in love.
– I had not seen a street art work before that was so good and hit the political situation so well, Viken tells Dagbladet.
It wasn’t long before the available space at the rear of his motorcycle was painted with the motif of the FRP deputy leader, writes Eidsvoll Ullensaker Blad, who was the first to mention the case.
– What did you think the first time you saw the finished motif on the back of the motorcycle?
– So I was super happy. I still think it’s cool, says Viken, praising the political points and details in the image.
Many reactions
However, the unusual motif has not gone completely unnoticed, and many have reacted upon seeing the motorcycle.
– There were people who got angry and angry a lot. It was especially FRP supporters who took offense on Listhaug’s behalf, he says.
However, Listhaug himself takes the issue lightly.
– It’s a bit funny that someone has thought to use that photo of me on their motorcycle. FRP has done a lot for motorcyclists in Norway, we reduced the one-time fee by 30 percent, so I hope you enjoyed it when you bought the motorcycle, he tells Dagbladet.
Trine Skei Grande picture painted on the wall in Listhaug
– Could you have someone similar on your motorcycle?
– No, I don’t have a motorcycle and I have no plans to get it. But this is fun. The best thing about the painting that hung on a door in Bergen is that he received hundreds of thousands of crowns for the cause of cancer, Listhaug says.
– And a naked tribute for you?
– There are many opinions about it, but at least it is fun that it generates such commitment.
Political history
The painting was priced at 10,000 crowns. Viken doesn’t think it can be compared to the motifs of other vehicles.
– The painting you see in many trailers of semi-naked women is not the same, he says and continues:
– This is political history and that is why it is so valuable to me.
The painting was done by the painter Ivar Åsland, with the permission of the original artist.
– It really is a work of art, says Viken.
The painting that appeared on the street corner in Bergen in 2018 was painted by the street artist ‘AFK’. It quickly gained national attention, and in an email to Dagbladet, the artist revealed the thoughts behind the painting.
– While we fight among ourselves, we lose sight of the events that have brought us here, wrote the person in question, who chose to hide his identity.
Rescued by students
Sold at auction
A few days after its appearance, it was painted with black paint, but some students removed it and managed to remove the paint with nail polish remover. The students eventually sold the painting to a private buyer for 300,000 crowns, who passed it on to Tore Gudmestad, who had an offer of 270,000 crowns.
Gudmestad is the father of journalist and writer Thea Steen, who died of cancer in 2016 at the age of 26. Steen spearheaded the Norwegian Cancer Society’s Check You campaign and also received the honorary award from the Norwegian Cancer Society.
Gudmestad has exhibited the painting at the Street Gallery in Bergen, and the public has also had the opportunity to donate money to the association.
In September 2018, it was sold for NOK 500,000 at auction. The money from the painting went to palliative care through the Norwegian Cancer Society.
– It’s a fantastic sum that serves a great purpose, Christer Holm at Gategalleriet told NRK.