Christian Tobias Aas Frank
I enjoy walking across neighborhoods, from the apartment blocks of the eastern suburbs into the city center. My paintings often revolve around atmospheres in the urban landscape and the interplay between nature and architecture.
About Akerselva / Ring 3
Akerselva / Ring 3 addresses a shift in where the “East Side” of Oslo is located. Akerselva has often been seen as the dividing line between east and west, but due to an ever-expanding city core and gentrification in areas such as Tøyen and Grünerløkka, this divide has moved further out. The painting is based on a collage, where the water of the Akerselva river has been replaced by the Ring 3 motorway.
Connection to Groruddalen
I have lived in Groruddalen my entire life. I attended school in the city center, which meant commuting daily by subway. I grew up in a high-rise block at Ellingsrud, a fairly car-free area on the southeastern edge of the valley. At a time when complaints about new housing developments in Oslo are increasing, I believe people should look to the apartment blocks of Groruddalen. They offer excellent public transport connections, are close to nature, and are surrounded by green landscapes.
