Two beer: Victor Haugen Kristiansen
Two beers with Victor Haugen Kristiansen
If you’ve seen UKErevyen 2020, you’ve seen Victor as an actor. If you’ve seen UKErevyen 2022, you haven’t seen Victor as an actor, but rather as a writer. We in Tuntreet found him in deep contemplation, sitting in a messy classroom in the KA building. After we poked him a bit, he began to speak.
“It was at the Jutul Cup at Fossum, as I ran down the pitch alone with the opposing keeper. And I missed, naturally. The movies always insist on letting the protagonist make it during the most important moment. You never do in reality, really.”
Journalist: Benjamin Alexander Faulkner
Photographer: Emilie Reistad
Gravelchild
Victor grew up in the suburb of Haslum, Bærum, Oslo, Norway, the world. He attended school like any other kid, and neglected football. He’d rather build castles of gravel during football training. He didn’t pay attention, whatsoever. He was put in defence, with all the other bad players. How could this boy, who built gravel castles and sucked at football, ever amount to anything? He enjoyed arts and crafts class, but none of the teachers liked him. He was the teacher’s worst little nightmare, and did absolutely nothing if he didn’t understand exactly why he had to do it. Consequently, he never met up in class after breaks. His mother wondered if it would be better to put him in a Waldorf school, but that never happened.
The young artiste
In his attempts to find an outlet for his creative outbreaks, he attended theatre, which he liked a lot. He never wanted to quit. That’s what his theatre teachers wanted him to do. Victor explains that it was probably some, “16-year-olds who did it as a part-time job, and I wasn’t any better at paying attention there than anywhere else.” He has never been fond of rules and regulations, and always buys unlined notepads. Already then, a provocative artiste passionné was in the making, and he was a real thorn in his teachers’ backside. Her name was appropriately Sølvi Malfoy, who was very strict. “She’d have been a Slytherin,” Victor says. “Not because she is evil, but Slytherin are a little elitist and systematic.”
Across the ocean
He later continued his education at Sandvika high school, but suddenly, he decided he should travel to America, so he found a place to settle in Fargo, Minnesota. He had ambitions of becoming a professional American football player. He attended a real high school where, apparently, there wasn’t a fixed learning curriculum. He could pick things for himself. He naturally selected weight lifting and calculus, and ended up becoming an unnatural crossbreed of “jock” and “nerd”, floating between the two cliques. He was accepted wherever he went as he was an exotic Norwegian. But he didn’t really get along properly with anyone. Victor liked to sit in his room, write epic stories and build marvellous universes with the tip of his pen, while the locals occupied themselves with hunting pheasants.
The creative type
By third grade, he realized he wanted to become an architect. That’s what his mum said he should try, as he was a creative type. But plans changed as soon as he was introduced to the life of an actor at the Sandvika revue. He applied to study at the Academy of Theatre, but then switched for studies in film production at NTNU, “because that is nice.” Then, he received a letter. It was decided that he should serve the King as an artillery ranger, acquiring targets far behind the enemy lines. After two weeks, he asked for postponement, and he’s glad Russia hasn’t invaded yet. “Then I’d die. I’d obviously die.” Back in Trondheim, he started a program at the student radio called “Harselas”, as a kind of “poor man’s” Misjonen. There, he was encouraged to say as many stupid things as possible and push people to the brink.
“Mildly put, an interest in maps”
Later on, he completed a bachelor’s degree in geography. The question now was whether he should do a master's degree, or start at the Nordic Institute of Stage and Studio. He chose landscape architecture at Ås, as he has, “mildly put, an interest in maps.” He has detailed all the fantasy worlds and universes he has created down to the last contour lines. He wanted to combine geography with something artistic. He matriculated as a student at Ås in 2018, and his only goal as a student was and still is to be finished as quickly as humanly possible. Nothing else mattered.
UKA i Ås
The first year, he lived together with two chieftains at Samfunnet: Oskar Mork and Erik Tylleskär, both heavily active in all aspects of society at Samfunnet. He agreed to join the UKEradio as a technician. He notes the differences between Ås and Trondheim. Volunteer work at Ås is connected to a strong association culture, while volunteer work at Trondheim is connected with individual projects at their Samfundet. He prefers the latter, and has never wanted to join association life.His social sphere is in Oslo, and that is enough. The corona plague came, and he kept mostly to himself and his projects.
In 2019, he joined the UKErevue, mostly for the project. He is, after all, fond of projects, but he made some good friends on the way as well. Here, his talent for pushing others was put to good use. There is something very chaotic deep down in Victor’s heart.
Chaos and other cushy things
This man appreciates chaos more than any other. He provides one example on how chaos is better than anything else. Woodstock 1999, a well-planned festival, ends with a shitfaced audience that tears down a sound tower and burns it all down, he says with a boyish smile. The last day, the employees ran off, and the Federal Government had to use the National Guard to stop the carnage.
Despite the bizarre ending to the festival, many of the attendants said that it was the best moment in their life. Samfunnet needs to have a bit more fun. Today, they are too controlled, Victor suggests. “And I wonder – why are there as many sitting on chairs with yellow vests as there are partygoers in the room? Isn’t locking the doors enough?” he asks openly. There are many artificial jobs that don’t really serve any purpose. It’s like Samfunnet has forgotten what it is – and it is to provide a space where people can have fun. “It’s when you do those things that aren’t completely proper, that you enjoy yourself the most,” he claims. We have to cross the boundaries to get a feel for them. That’s when you transcend to a “greater fun”.
Master’s degree and what comes after
For the purpose of his degree, he is exploring possibilities for a garden in Larvik dated to 1680. “It’s actually a bit exciting. I have to work with it, kind of. So I sit alone in my room, most of the time.” The reason he chose this subject is that it’s what his advisor told him to do. When he is finished, the possibilities are many. As he says, “Theatre is primary, landscape architecture is secondary.” Together with his colleague, revue instructor Mathias Falch, he has instructed Sandvika high school in its revue. It shouldn’t surprise anyone if he finds himself a career in revue. Tuntreet wishes him good luck. “I don’t have a clear plan, really. Everything is just chaos. That’s exciting,” as he says.
Greetings to Victor
Dear Victor. Little did I know what lay I store for me that fateful night we moved in together to that dorm. Your humor is top notch, and you radiate comic genius. I have drawn great pleasure from all the moments when we’ve messed about together.
-Regards from Anders (former roomie)
I feel I’m getting somewhat mixed signals from you, and I wish you could be a little more coherent in your communication. It is not my intention to be difficult, but I believe that what we’ve got is worth fighting for<3 Thanks for being the person you are. I am looking forward to see how you develop; With or without me. Call me.
-Filippa
Me and Victor worked together at a folk museum in Trondheim. The job consisted of entertaining kids visiting the museum with gags and antics inspired by the old days. There was this one time when we hosted a difficult kindergarden that didn’t react to the ordinary jokes. Then, Victor took the initiative and said: “Do you know what I like to have on my bread slice? Lingon poop jam!” The kids laughed, and the rest of the experience went fine. Victor taught me that it’s fine to be shameless if the goal is to make people laugh.
-Sven (former colleague at Folk Museum in Trondheim)
Lovely lad, lovely man, lovely chap! Behind the steady facade lies a unique driving force. A driving force that creates and provides, professionally and privately. I actually mean that. In addition, I have seen his prick once, and still don’t see colors.
-Gøran (Trondheim Student radio)
Dear kind and lovely Victor. As a child, you were already enthusiastic and creative in play. You liked to listen to and create good stories. You dreamt of building castles, trenches and trojan horses. You were, at times, so engorged that you forgot time and things. Have you told your friends that you’ve been in two horse films, known as “Gustav”? You are good at setting goals for yourself, and have the capacity to complete your work. We are impressed by all you’ve accomplished with the student radio and student revues, in addition to your studies. We greatly appreciate your good spirits, and your care for your family and friends. We are very proud of you.
-Hugs, mum and dad <3
It is known that beloved onions have many layers, and Victor is an onion. Creative, caring, mad, industrious and completely deranged! You can be certain that something shiny comes out of him when he glares thoughtfully up into the ceiling. It might take a little time, but it is always worth it. He’s a sore loser, too. We have video evidence that you weren’t the one to win the winter tournament of Hi-Ha-Ho in 2020. You have to accept defeat, Victor. You frighten those around you with your impassioned feeling! You’re an exciting combination of dutifulness, but not very punctual. BUT, we are lucky to have experienced you snapping fingers to “Bet on it”.
-Friends
