Bertil Greging (1957) works within a wide range of drawing, collage, graphics, painting and installation. Greging's expression can be described as fearless and playful. He likes to experiment with different techniques within one work, and it is not uncommon for him to tear a work to pieces in order to rebuild it by creating a completely new composition. The works contain references to art history, the artist's own life and Oslo, the city Greging grew up in. The visual result in his works can give associations to various eras in art history such as expressionism and cubism, but also to a more graphic idiom and graffiti, often mixed with a dash of humor. Greging's work has been purchased by, among others, the National Gallery, Norwegian Cultural Council, Malmö Art Museum and Statoil. Bertil Greging lives and works in Oslo. More information can be found on Bertil Greging 's website .
TF: Bertil, can you tell us a bit about your artistic work?
BG: I work a lot on paper, which often ends up in large format. In recent years there have been a number of collages. I like to work at my own pace, that is to say quickly, I can't linger and poke my way through a piece of work, as it used to be years ago. Probably has a lot to do with motor skills, experience and age. I work in the studio practically every day except Saturday and Sunday. The drawing is always there, the kitchen table is used all week, especially in the evenings.
TF: How do you use drawing in your work? Tell us a little about your work process!
BG: Drawing is probably the main basis for most of what I do. I am more or less self-taught, and in that lies a freedom. I am rarely satisfied with what I do, which is perhaps also the reason why many of the works I do are torn or cut up and turned into large collages. For me, it is important that composition, dynamics and expression do not stiffen and become dead, the works must be authentic, give off a breath.
TF: What inspires you? Do you work from a theme?
BG: Work in the moment, a small scrap of paper on the floor can trigger a bigger landslide. The eyes, the brain, the physical, yes, everything that belongs to the bodily organism, for better or for worse.
TF: What are you currently working on?
BG: Right now I'm writing down answers to questions for " Artist of the Month ». Otherwise, I am working towards a new solo exhibition at Galleri Golsa, which will open at the beginning of February in the new year.
TF: What does drawing mean to you and your work?
BG: The drawing has been the basis for most of my larger works. I distinguish between studio work and drawings of a more intimate nature that I make at home on the kitchen table in very small formats. I had a period of over a year when I sat up late into the night and drew, it turned out to be over 700 small drawings, went completely beyond night sleep. Small drawings can later be the starting point for larger works, collages or paintings.
TF: Tell us a little about your work in the Tegnerforbundet's sales department!
BG: The drawings in the sales department are done on colored paper with colored pencil and pencil, and some collage and glue. I call them dark drawings of the night, dead fragmented souls brought up from the deep ocean of the subconscious.
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Available works by Bertil Greging in the Tegnerforbundet's sales department and online store can be found here .
