Poolkonst på Stapelbäddsparken
Name, age and where are you from?
I am David Shrigley, 40 years old from Glasgow, Scotland.
What was your first reaction when you got the offer to paint the pool at Stapelbäddsparken?
I have never been asked to paint a mural before, let alone one on a skatebowl, so it seemed like a great project. I figured that skaters are pretty liberal so they would be able to accommodate my style.
What was the most difficult thing about the paintjob?
We had a few problems; we ran out of paint and it took a while to get some more; the bowl being white in the first place meant I had to wear sunglasses in order to see; it was very hot so I got a bit sunburnt; and there was a lot of crap that kept blowing into the pool. But all that stuff got sorted out. You can't do a big project and not have any problems doing it.
Its a big painting. Did you have any help?
Nils, John and Tobias from Bryggeriet helped paint the pool white and put the varnish on and Tobias looked after me while I was painting. Ultimately I think I had more fun than they did…
Can you describe the artwork?
I guess the piece is a big expressive painting. I made it up as I went along, which is how I like to work. Whilst some of the images are recognizable (faces, eyes, etc.) it is a little abstract as well.
I got really into the drips when I was painting it. The drips describe the contours of the bowl which is interesting but also practical if you are trying to skate on it.
How was it to paint with so many people watching the whole time? Any special memories from the job?
The people at the park where all pretty friendly. Apart from the fact that I can't skate I think I could be a good skater because I'm good at hanging out. Skaters seem to do a lot of hanging out.
Memories: It was strange when the school buses arrived. I've never had an audience of 100 ten year-olds before. They all kept asking me things in Swedish and I didn't understand…
What do you think about Stapelbäddsparken?
As an artist the first thing that struck me about the park is how beautiful it is. It's such an amazing giant sculpture in itself.
The skaters are pretty entertaining as well, of course.
Do you see any connections between art and skateboarding?
I'm sure there are lots of links between the two and lots of people who do both. Maybe one thing that occurs to me is that skaters and artists both can be pretty obsessive. Skating or making art is like a drug. You have to do it all the time otherwise you get miserable.
You also designed a new t-shirt for Stapelbäddsparken? Where can people buy that?
I guess people can buy the T at the Bryggeriet parks.
Last words?
Be careful. Don't be careful.
