As the title suggests, this is a short film about stealing. But it is also a socio-political statement about economic power structures. The events brought together here are situated between artistic and political action; they may be "criminal" but they echo human behaviour and need. It set out to address the income Inequality in Norway which is the wealthiest country in Europe.
This was an effort to investigate the notion of "Art beyond the law". In this method, art does not exclude eccentric behaviour that potentially can be called "crime". One can argue that artistic crime occurs when artists simply put out their sensors and focus on questioning the function of the weathervane that indicates the legality of an action. The idea of "legal" and "illegal" is often based on social ethics and political structures that are designed according to the government's economic interests. For instance, in Italy, Silvio Berlusconi and his populist government had, for years, been bending the law in their favour which resulted in trials and allegations involving abuse of office, bribery and corruption of police officers. In recent years in the US, current and former presidents and their administrations insisted on illegalising the legal and vice versa. (The scrapping of Roe v Wade in 2022 is one example.)
Through the lens of absurdity and humour, A Short Film About Stealing set out to address the laws and status in the wealthiest country in Europe. The film hopes to open the discussion about the legal structures regarding "petty theft", or how the simple act of stealing the material that is considered to be the most basic needs of a human being, is more than just a random act of crime, it is a warning in the face of reality.
At various points in time, non-conformist artists have, through their critical evaluation of law and legality shown the way. Artists such as Ann Messner, Francis Alÿs, John Giorno, Hans Winkler and Allen Ginsberg. They used provocation as a strategy to "not go along with everything".
This was an effort to investigate the notion of "Art beyond the law". In this method, art does not exclude eccentric behaviour that potentially can be called "crime". One can argue that artistic crime occurs when artists simply put out their sensors and focus on questioning the function of the weathervane that indicates the legality of an action. The idea of "legal" and "illegal" is often based on social ethics and political structures that are designed according to the government's economic interests. For instance, in Italy, Silvio Berlusconi and his populist government had, for years, been bending the law in their favour which resulted in trials and allegations involving abuse of office, bribery and corruption of police officers. In recent years in the US, current and former presidents and their administrations insisted on illegalising the legal and vice versa. (The scrapping of Roe v Wade in 2022 is one example.)
Through the lens of absurdity and humour, A Short Film About Stealing set out to address the laws and status in the wealthiest country in Europe. The film hopes to open the discussion about the legal structures regarding "petty theft", or how the simple act of stealing the material that is considered to be the most basic needs of a human being, is more than just a random act of crime, it is a warning in the face of reality.
At various points in time, non-conformist artists have, through their critical evaluation of law and legality shown the way. Artists such as Ann Messner, Francis Alÿs, John Giorno, Hans Winkler and Allen Ginsberg. They used provocation as a strategy to "not go along with everything".
Production year: 2023
Role: Director, Animator
Runtime: 00:04:56
Animation, Colour, Stereo
Role: Director, Animator
Runtime: 00:04:56
Animation, Colour, Stereo