Mindanao Advice

Ulf Steinar Melkstavik, known as Ulf M, is a Norwegian painter who has developed a distinctive artistic voice: recognizable and subtly whimsical. His art resides at the intersection of the surreal and the folkloric, often populated by figures placed in scenes ranging from the absurd to the deeply melancholic.

His works frequently carry an underlying sense of drama, particularly in the recurring motif of women with suitcases, as if they are leaving something or someone behind in search of a brighter future.

A personal heartbreak strongly inspires these paintings. After his long-term partner ended their relationship, he decided to pursue painting full-time.

He left behind a life selling women’s clothing in a boutique on Oslo’s Hegdehaugsveien, a shop he humorously named “The Fly.” People would smile as they passed the sign on the door that read, “The fly is open.” For a time, he enjoyed great success and even entertained customers by playing piano in the shop.

Ulf M works with bold colors and a kind of intoxicating playfulness that causes viewers to pause in fascination and wonder.

He established himself in Stamsund, Lofoten, in 2002. In December 2005, I began making a documentary about him. I followed him with a video camera occasionally until autumn 2009, capturing his exhibitions in Bodø, Stamsund, Sortland, and New York, where he exhibited at Agora Gallery.

At the heart of Ulf M’s work lies a sense of intoxication, not only in the sensual sense but also in the emotional realm of human relationships, identity, travel, and belonging. His paintings speak to the viewer with irony, but also with tenderness.

These artworks form a fascinating backdrop to a documentary that follows him from personal bankruptcy to the moment he jokingly describes his profession as “Success Painter.”

The film was never fully completed, but I recently found it on an old hard drive. It has aged well and will soon be shown here on the blog in its entirety. The film, titled An Outsider in Stamsund, runs for 22 minutes and will be launched exclusively here on our blog soon.

I mentioned Ulf M as a major source of inspiration in my article introducing GaffGaff Galleri. The piece also features excerpts from a pilot made for Chinese television, in which a vibrant Chinese dancer named Nancy first speaks with the Norwegian film director, Nils Gaup, before becoming captivated by the incredible world of Ulf M, who fires colors from his paintbrush like Al Capone sprays bullets from his Tommy gun. Click here to take a look.

But first, a little taste of what’s to come. Below is a music video, “Brun Kafé/Dingy Café,” in which Ulf sings original lyrics to a melody by Drafi Deutscher, reborn with new words and vocals by Ulf M. Then, you’ll see the first minute of An Outsider in Stamsund. Enjoy!

Featured image © Kenneth Grav, texts on the image by Eldar Einarson