If there is one thing that can transform a city’s dull and boring walls, then that is Street Art. Often street art goes beyond beautification and can be a reflection of the times, the artists and the sentiment of the people. And this form of expression is now being recognized widely in the urban art movement and otherwise.
Helsingborg found its way on the street art map in 2015 with the first wall which is quite familiar to those who live here - "In the land of grey and pink" (No 1 in the list below) by Telmo Miel right in the city centre. Soon after, the movement took a natural course of growth and now invites international artists to visit and contribute to the walls of the city.
Street Art Helsingborg’s goal is to inspire everyone (and that includes artists, visitors, municipalities and companies) to make art accessible to everyone and that art should not be limited to galleries and museums.
Street Art Helsingborg is moderated by Kulturhotellet, a driving force in the development of a vibrant and a booming street art culture in the city. They also manage and execute various art projects with public and private collaborators.
While they will soon plan street art tours and make available maps to find the paintings in the city, here are details of ten beautiful murals of the city and where to find them (in no particular order).
1. In the land of pink and grey
Artist(s) - Telmo Miel
Location - Norra Strandgatan 11
Where it all started! Done in collaboration with the 2015 HX festival by the Dutch duo Telmo Miel, 'In the land of grey and pink' can be found right in the heart of the city and was one of the first murals in Helsingborg. This project was made by the agency Addmorecolor.
More work by the artists here - www.telmomiel.com
2. Mélia’s Journey
Artist - Mantra
Location - Malmöleden/Furutorpsgatan
Created by the French artist Mantra, this piece is referred to by the locals as “The Cat” and not very difficult to spot when you’re taking the train in or out of Helsingborg. The inspiration for this came from a private photo taken at the residence of a well a well-renowned photographer, Martha Cooper.
This mural was made during ArtstreetHbg in 2018.
3. Amy Sol
Artist - Amy Sol, USA
Location - Övre Holländaregatan, Helsingborg
American artist Amy Sol created this mural in 2019 during #ArtStreetHBG, a collaboration between Helsingborg Stad (Stadsbyggnadsförvaltningen and Kulturförvaltningen) and Kulturhotellet.
Inspired by the artist's love of mythology and folk art, the piece becomes one with its environment beautifully.
More work by the artist here - www.amysol.com
4. Unexpected Journey through the day
Artist - Artez, Serbia
Location - Ängelholmsvägen (Subway)
Image (c) Street Art HBG
Right next to Zoegas, underground in the subway, you will find a three-part mural series by the Serbian artist Artez - "Take a nap", "Before the nap" and "Help her grow". The pieces represent activities that one would not usually associate with a tunnel, but the artist inspires us to take it outside and be with nature.
This mural is part of a collaboration between Helsingborg Stad (Stadsbyggnadsförvaltningen) and Kulturhotellet focusing on creating a safer public space and is based on a dialogue with residents in each specific area.
More work by the artist here - www.artezonline.com
5. Ancient wisdom is our crown
Artist - Vera Primavera
Location - Kommissgatan, Helsingborg
Part of #ArtStreetHBG, the "Ancient wisdom is our crown" mural was painted by 'Vera Primavera', an artist from Ecuador and traverses themes of power, feminism and mysticism. If you look at her other work, you will notice how a focal point is on regaining the strength of how women are portrayed in public spaces.
More work by the artist here - www.veraveraprimavera.com
6. Destination
Artist - Millo
Location - Knutpunkten (Central Station), Helsingborg
This one you possibly cannot miss! Found inside the central station towards the bus terminals, you will find a 30-meter-long mural by the Italian artist Millo. The three-part painting covers a theme appropriate to its location - Travel. It reflects the journey of travel itself - when we dream of it, when we pack and when we leaf through its memories when back.
Collaboration between Kulturhotellet and Stadsbyggnadsförvaltningen. Part of improving the overall feeling and face of the busterminal at Knutpunkten.
More work by the artist here - www.millo.biz
7. Sculpture city
Artist - Tim Timmey (Tim Nedrup)
Location - Pixlapiren
From our very own Helsingborg, Tim Nedrup’s work can be seen not only in this city but around Sweden. If you walk around Pixlapiren you will spot a lot of his work including the wooden sculpture featured in the image. Vibrant, colourful with a lot of inspiration from dinosaurs and chameleons, you will find his work in many other locations of Helsingborg. The sculpture is a collaboration between Pixlapiren, Kulturhotellet and Tim Timmey.
More work by the artist here - www.timnedrup.com
8. Poseidon
Artists - PichiAvo
Location : Gasverksgatan 25
Spanish duo PichiAvo's work creates a beautiful union between paintings and sculpture and can be found in many countries of Europe. They created this large mural of Poseidon in Soder in 2018 during #ArtStreetHBG.
More work by the artists here - www.pichiavo.com
9. The Globetrotters
Artist - Stine Hvid, Denmark
Location: Traktörsgatan 5
Through a collaboration between Helsingborgshem and Kulturhotellet, Danish artist Stine Hvid added life to this wall by painting “the globetrotter” owls - signifying the character of the neighbourhood with people from around the globe.
More work by the artist here - http://stinehvid.dk
10. Gisela Trapp
Location - Gustav Adolfs Torg
Artist - Christina ”Starfighter” Angelina
The woman who gave Fredriksdal to the city - Gisela Trapp was an artist and an illustrator in Helsingborg in 1918. This portrait of her overlooking the square in Söder was inspired by different representations by the Venice based artist Christina Angelina, a well-renowned name in the global street art space.
More work by the artist here - https://www.instagram.com/starfightera/?hl=sv
These are just ten of the many more walls that you can find in the city. And since it’s inception in 2015, the Street Art family of Helsingborg is only growing. Watch out for their annual festival that happens each year in the summer.
Apart from all the murals across the city, you can also visit Kulturhotellet at Södergatan 15 if you’re interested in art that goes beyond the streets!
For more details on events and exhibitions – Kulturhotellet - http://kulturhotellet.com/
Street Art HBG – http://www.streetarthbg.se/Instagram