August 5, 2018
“DAVID”
by Martin Whatson
While Oslo today offers a home to a growing display of urban art, the city’s “zero tolerance” policy of the 90s when Martin Whatson joined the emerging graffiti scene was far less welcoming. Since that time Whatson has developed an unmistakable style, creating grayscale figurative compositions and then, perhaps in some way referencing those earlier days, vandalising the work with a flurry of colorful and energetic abstract graffiti. Whatson’s compelling work has become a hit around the world and he now does as much work on canvas as on walls. In 2013 Whatson was in Stavanger, Norway for one such show of his gallery work—a show called “Undercover” at the Reed Projects Gallery—and created this version of Michelangelo’s iconic David to promote the opening, both on paper and on this wall on Salvågergata near the gallery. @martinwhatson