Private home paintings and public murals are something Gurdish has been doing since the beginning of her career, and the same goes for her artwork on dishes. She describes the latter as a recycling project since the plates she uses are found at antique stores or markets. She works with the motif that’s present by incorporating what’s already there into the details she creates. “I let the plate dictate the drawing.” They’re all individual, and she calls the process meditative – a stark contrast to how she describes painting murals. Her large-scale pieces have a different energy to them and working can feel “a bit like dancing.” She always listens to music while she paints and allows herself to loosen up. “You can be much more expressive with your mark making.”
Gurdish also works with window displays, something that started once she arrived in Bergen. “Marks behave differently when light shines differently.” She likes how the sun and the shadows come into play, and she loves that it’s a surface you can explore by seeing it from the inside as well as outside.
Like her many different canvases, the locations in which her creations are displayed vary greatly as well. Last summer, Gurdish was one of the artists in Norway selected to do a piece in honour of nurses. Her painting ‘Roar!’ was unveiled in the mountains and is “a shout for the elderly.” It is a portrait of nurse Irene Vågen, a specialist who works with people who have dementia. Gurdish wanted to bring more attention to Irene and Eldrebrølet, a campaign that seeks for better care of the elderly and those with dementia. This project was made possible through Piece by Piece, an integrative agency for artists that Gurdish has collaborated with before. “It’s really nice to be a part of their projects – to be making street art and making it more accessible to the public.”
Bergen is one of Norway’s biggest street art hubs, which is one of the reasons why Gurdish believes her urban artistic style has been popular. She believes collaborating is a fantastic way to stay creative. “You can become so stuck in the way you work. People can challenge your methods and the way you perceive your own work.” Gurdish knows the importance of not being static, so she tries to invite people in on projects when she can. “It’s always been important to me to play, experiment and broaden my view. When you’re excited and having fun it reflects back into your work.”
Bergen is quite a small town in comparison to London, so the art scene is significantly different. However, Gurdish believes there’s less distraction in Bergen because it’s surrounded by nature. She felt a shift in her career and experienced a much deeper focus upon arriving. Art is rigorously encouraged. “You feel included and you can always partake and get involved. Everyone talks to each other. Everyone is willing to collaborate and do things together.” Gurdish wants to continue developing herself as an artist and Bergen is the perfect place for that.
