Swedish Guerilla Art Trend

Last year saw the birth of a news mass movement in Sweden - the strange phenomenon of the Roundabout Dog.

It all began when the local town council of Linköping in Sweden displayed a commissioned sculpture by the artist Stina Opitz in the center of a roundabout in the suburb of Tornby. The 70cm tall concrete dog-figure was vandalized shortly afterwards, and its remains were collected and stored by the city of Linköping.

The vandalism of the town’s public art was widely discussed in the local newspaper and the artist began working on a vandalism-proof edition of her original work. But before the new sculpture could be completed, someone placed a homemade, somewhat ugly-looking, dog made of salvaged planks on the scene of the crime. Before long, local media caught on and the ball had started rolling.

Soon, many more odd-looking animal sculptures by anonymous amateurs started appearing at traffic intersections all over Sweden. The choice of animal portrayed was as varied as the artists´ choice of material.

Void of commercial interest, the site www.rondellhund.se (rondell= roundabout; hund= dog) was established to track the new sculptures that were popping up. Stina Optiz quickly became one of the most desirable talk show guests, unwillingly placed in the role of “mother” to the roundabout dogs. University professors called the phenomenon the common man’s protest against a conformist Swedish urban society.

Guerilla artist Peter Nyberg of Linköping, however, told tabloid Expressen that his contributions to roundabout-art were meant to "mock those artists employed by the state who receive considerable sums of money to produce pieces of art anyone could make."

While most of the guerilla artists remain unknown, a group calling themselves AVK (Akademi Vreta Kloster) claimed 4 of the early roundabout pieces. AKV told Corren, a local Swedish newspaper, that their dogs were meant to voice a protest against vandalism in society.

Even the Swedish institutions of art were quick to establish themselves as a factor in this popular trend. Already by November 2006, the Östergötland County Museum had opened an exhibition of unsolicited sculptures found on Linköping roundabouts to promote the growing trend. “The dogs started appearing all the time," said Lena Wiklund at the Östergötland County Museum. “...It has become something of a popular movement," Wiklund told The Local, a Swedish news internet site.

rondellhund.se´s current definition of the trend reads: “Non-professionally produced sculptural art in the form of a dog or other animal made from any material which, often concealed by the darkness of the night, is placed in a public place, preferably in a roundabout.”

The abandoned animal characters are greeted with amusement and curiosity. Of course, some people voice traffic safety-concerns; others object to the sculptures´ make-shift appearances, but mostly the sculptures are welcomed with smiles.

And in the wake of the first sighting of roundabout dogs in a new area, there tends to be a rush of related practical jokes. Theft, or re-allocation of sculptures between local roundabouts engages pranksters of all ages. Usually sensible Swedes have been known to engage in silly acts such as bringing pieces of broken animal sculptures to the local veterinarian’s doorstep.

Enthusiastic Swedes, intoxicated with the animals´ charm, have taken it upon themselves to export the craze. Dog sightings have been reported from roundabouts in London, Australia, and Norway.... but why let the trend stop there? If you're not too busy this weekend, make a dog and go Reclaim A Roundabout near you.

Rondellhund

Roundabout Dog

Comments

[Carol and John]

Hi we live in Milton Keynes UK famous for its roundabouts, come on someone make us smile.

[miragana]

Good day!
It is very informative and has a very good quality in it.
I like it...

www.Squidoo.com/MPI
mliragana.blogspot.com

Thank you very much for your time.

[The Baldchemist]

Ha ha. Having just moved to Linkoping after many years abroad, always believing that Swedes were far too conservative; I now find that things have changed! My native tongue English is used with insoucience in Swedish these days. It also appears that Swedes are now seeing the lighter side of life and are revolting against frivolous use of public money.
Haven't seen any "sculptures yet though. Where the hell are they? Thanks for the post. None pissing up against my door at night I hope.
The Baldchemist