Herleik Kristiansen was 16 years old when he was sent from his home to Northern Norway's Mentally Impaired Home with a note that referred to him as "unable to learn". Ten years later he was a recognized visual artist and represented in the National Gallery's collections. He is referred to by critics as our foremost "Outsider Artist".
Karl Emil Rikardsen followed Herleik with his camera for 2.5 years until Herleik´s death in February 2023.
20 years earlier, Rikardsen started filming his first film about this unique artist. The film Herleik-Free as the Bird premiered in 2006. Clips from this film are also included in the new film.
In Herleik's Signatures, we also meet the graphic artist Adrian A Norwich, who has printed many of Herleik's works. It turns out that as many as four hundred of these prints lack the artist’s signature. Adrian is asked if he can be helpful in obtaining these. It is no easy task, as Herleik is weakened by Parkinson's disease.
Herleik's Signatures
Length: 39min
Director,/DoP/Writer: Karl Emil Rikardsen
Editor: Rachel A Gomez
Composer: Markus Lappalainen
Sound design and mix: Rune Hansen
Producers: Vidar Nordli Mathisen and Karl Emil Rikardsen
Delivery: July 2023