Dala Project

THE DALA PROJECT

The Dala Project is an ongoing personal side street-art project I am working on. The intention is to place Dala horses (realistic horses painted like Swedish Dala horses) around Sweden (and eventually, hopefully around the world). The hope is to bring public art to the community and maybe try to deliver messages of current issues via the art of the horses.

The reason I chose the Dala Project is because I think the Dala Horse is such a culture stamp in Sweden and that the majority of the public can relate to it and feel some sort of attachment to the Dala Horse and what it represents in Swedish cultural history. Adding my own twist of painting the Dala in a realistic manner helps draw attention to the public art placed in local Swedish neighborhoods as well as let the community accept urban art and how it is placed in their public space.

Cop on Duty

Another dala making his way through Gothenburg. The white sign I placed next to it reads "No Public Art Allowed! By Order of Gothenburg Council. Police on Duty 24/7". Funny enough, this painting was placed around the corner from the office of Gothenburg Council (who are the ones who voted on the strict graffiti/street-art laws for Gothenburg city). Oh the irony. :)

Gothenburg, Sweden 2011 © Shai Dahan 2011

Dala in Boras

Borås, Sweden 2011 © Shai Dahan 2011

Gothenburg Dala

Little Cowboy riding a dala. I wish I had a close up of this but by the time I returned to photograph it, it was already taken off. Notice in the back (on the left) there are a couple of Gothenburg Police on their horses. :)

Central Gothenburg, Sweden 2011 © Shai Dahan 2011

Central Gothenburg, Sweden 2011 © Shai Dahan 2011

Gothenburg, Sweden. © Shai Dahan

The Dala Project

Sweden. © Shai Dahan