Stepping into the Chaotic and Wonderful Mind of Bendik Kaltenborn

A man of many talents, Bendik Kaltenborn is a Norwegian illustrator and designer by nature. Based in Oslo, evidence of his work can be seen in the bodegas and alleyways throughout Norway. His chaotic yet refined attention to typography, color, and design, perfectly encapsulates the energy one absorbs when exploring Norway. Roark is proud to present this curated collection featuring Bendik’s original works.

We recently got to sit down with Bendik and ask him a few of the most poignant questions burning in our mind about his background, where he draws inspiration from, and how the dramatic Norwegian landscape influences his life and work. We hope you enjoy the inner workings of his mind as much as we do.

Can you give us a brief synopsis of your upbringing and how you came to study Art in Oslo and Stockholm?

I’ve always been drawing so there really was no other option since I did horrible in school as a result of constant drawing and not paying attention. When I was old enough to apply to art school things finally started rolling in the right direction. However it took some years until it was possible to make a living from it and although things are flowing nicely now I never take it for granted. Especially now when you already see AI replacing our profession to a worrying degree on many levels. 

Your artwork encapsulates contemporary work, graphic design, animation, illustration, and comics. Can you explain how you synthesize these different mediums of art?

I love to play with narrative drawings in many ways. I guess my background as a comic artist has an impact on everything I do, since I enjoy adding narrative elements into posters and design as well, and also the other way around sometimes, where I might try to solve a comic page in a more design oriented manner. 

How does living in Norway influence the themes and subjects of your art?

Although being greatly inspired from all kinds of nations and art forms and non-art I definitely take a big amount of inspiration from my Norwegian surroundings, both the good and the bad aspects of this little nation. I love including our nature, the forests, and the mountains, as well as (the few) charming old parts of the urban and small towns. But also the bad stuff here inspires me (and provokes me) and it feels good to work with this in a satirical way. For example the fact that there’s almost a collective mania of buying and making money on houses and apartments here, to such a degree that many people can’t afford to live in the cities. It seems people forget that they’re dealing with homes, where people are supposed to live, not with piggy banks. I could go on, but just mentioning this as a small example of the great contrasts that inspires me here. 

If you had to describe your art in three words, what would they be?

Dreamy, dynamic, and silly.

How do you unwind or get inspired when you’re not working on art? Do you have any hobbies or rituals?

Video games and hiking are my favorite activities when not working. Sitting down with my Playstation is both a way of totally disconnecting from whatever project I might be struggling with as well as surprisingly inspiring. Especially the mood of games like the Dark Souls series (although not the most relaxing games around) has directly influenced some of my drawings. Another thing I love is walking in the forest and the mountains. Whenever I meet a wall, either professionally or personally, I take a hike and more often than not I’ve solved a lot of stuff when I return home. Luckily Oslo is surrounded by a big forest, just a few stops away from the subway.

What’s the most challenging aspect of your artistic process, and how do you overcome it?

Probably the fact that I’m a total scatterbrain, my focus is like a piece of soap. Unless I’m working on something that I’m really into, then I can lose myself in it. The solution is to wait until the deadline is so close I start to panic, then my mind shifts and the ideas usually come quite fast. Also, having been drawing my whole life I’m able to work really fast when I first get started (without compromising quality). 

How do you balance your artistic vision with the practical aspects of being an artist?

I’ve been lucky enough to get a lot of really fun jobs, like my long-time collaboration with my friend Todd Terje, and this one, where I can work quite freely and put a lot of myself in it. But still, a lot of the stuff that boils inside me is just too weird for clients so I’m putting all of that into comics, surreal watercolors and lately — film, which is something I’ve been exploring lately.

You’ve had experiences in different art forms. How have these diverse artistic practices—whether painting, sculpture, or digital media—interacted and influenced each other in your work?

Expressing myself through art is a necessity for me, and for many years drawings and comics have been my main outlet. I took an artistic PhD recently where I shifted the storyteller medium from comics to directing live action film, and I find that telling stories through two very different processes is a huge creative blast and both influences the other. For instance, when a short comic I’ve made has become a film scene, it’s made together with a lot of people, like a makeup artist, costume designer, production designer, cinematographer, and actors, which all adds to and enlightens my own comic universe. So when going back to making comics again, I suddenly know a lot more about my characters and the world they exist in, which is a big thrill. 

Are there any Norwegian artists or art movements that have significantly influenced your work? How have they impacted your creative process or artistic philosophy?

Definitely. Munch is a big inspiration, probably for most Norwegian artists, but also Theodor Kittelsen, which is another national treasure. He worked more with Norwegian folklore and mystical themes, in addition to satirical drawings and paintings. He has essentially captured the look of the whole Norwegian mythology, in a way that is so intriguing and absorbing. At the same time managing to keep it interesting, mystical, and genuine. To anyone visiting Norway I would definitely recommend checking out his art at the National Museum, but also visit his own little museum, the Kittelsenmuseet, in the forest a short drive from Oslo. Amazing art and even furniture decoratively carved out by the artist himself. Writing my first feature screenplay these days, I’m taking great inspiration from his world. I’m definitely not the first one, but I’m trying to really do my own weird take on it and blend it with my own crazy universe, hopefully landing on something original and exciting.