Eric Ness Christiansen is a graffiti artist and curator of UGANGprosjektet in Drammen, one of the biggest graffiti happenings in Norway, covering close to 5000 m2 with up to 50 artists annually.
UGANGprosjektet started in 2014 as a pilot project by Drammen city council. Until February of the same year, the city had taken a zero tolerance approach towards graffiti and street art for nearly 10 years. Christiansen presented his plan for the city and called it Ugang, playing on the Norwegian words for mischief (Ugagn) and underpass (Undergang).
The festival has since hosted international artists such as Sofles, TelmoMiel, Henrik Aarrestad Uldalen and Felipe Pantone, and is now expanding to Måløy on the west coast of Norway; an exiting new chapter of UGANGprosjektet’s history led by curator Tone Holvik-Eriksen.