Roy Blohm

How many years has this dog followed me?

I think it was originally printed for an exhibition

of Roy Blohm's paintings.

Roy Blohm, or Uncle Roy, as we called him, was

a friend of my father. Both grew up in Steenstrupsgate

at Gruenerloekka in Oslo. For me, his paintings

became a visual memory of Gruenerloekka, of visits

to my grandmother, of stories my father told from his

childhood, but with the special connection that it was

Uncle Roy who had painted them.

I own one original oil painting by Roy Blohm.

Not one of his more typical themes of old people, dogs

and children, but an oil painting from around 1945,

showing the backyard, the inner court, of the houses

in Steenstrupsgate. Like I remember seeing it from my

grandmother's apartment.

My memories of Uncle Roy are from my childhood.

What I remember was that he looked more like a clerk

working in an office than an artist in a studio.

No beard or long hair. Neatly dressed.

Short hair. Quiet. Pleasant.

I know my father liked him very much.