thumb|Kjell Aukrust (1965)

thumb|350 px|Aukrustsenteret (now Huset Aukrust)

Kjell Aukrust (19 March 1920 – 24 December 2002) was a Norwegian author, poet, artist and humorist. Aukrust is principally known for his Flåklypa stories and Flåklypa drawings.

Personal life

Aukrust was born in Alvdal Municipality in Hedmark, Norway as a son of Lars Olsen Aukrust (1886–1965) and Louise Walmsnæss (1887–1973). His father was principal at Storsteigen Agricultural School in Alvdal. He was a nephew of poet Olav Aukrust, brother of Odd Aukrust, a noted economist who was responsible for research at Statistics Norway. He was married to Kari Holter in 1947.

He trained at the Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry 1938–42. In 1939, one of his drawings was accepted at the Autumn Exhibition in Oslo. His memoirs of his childhood in Alvdal appeared in the series of three books: Simen, Bonden and Bror Min published in 1958, 1964 and 1960. This setting was the basis of the 1975 animated film "Flåklypa Grand Prix", directed by Ivo Caprino. The film was the first full-length animated feature in Norway, became an international success and has been translated into more than seventy languages. In Britain it is known as "Pinchcliffe Grand Prix". The protagonist Reodor Felgen (English version: Theodore Rimspoke) has become synonymous in Norway with Rube Goldberg type contraptions. Released in 1998, this movie takes place in Oslo and Alvdal. In Britain it is known as Gurin with the Foxtail.

References

  • Huset Aukrust website
  • Virtual tour of Huset Aukrust