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Vigeland Sculpture Park

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OsloShamster
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3 out of 5
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Climb on the Sculpture

  • November 16, 2008
  • Rated 4 of 5 by mgtw from Zagreb, Croatia
Climb on the Sculpture

Oslo, capital of Norway was founded in 1048. Name is derived from Old Norse, and it roughly means "the fields of the gods". Today it's modern city, biggest in Norway, though it has only 500,000 residents. It has quite a lot of museums and monuments, as well as plenty of green spaces.
One of the main attractions is Vigeland sculpture park. It's a part of Frogner park (Frognerparken), situated 3 km north-west from the city center, so it can be easily visited on foot. Otherwise, trams 12 and 15, marked Frogner coming from the center.
The park covers 80 acres, and contain about 200 granite and bronze sculptures made by Gustav Vigeland, Norway's most famous sculptor. To be precise, the sculptures were designed by Vigeland, who was personally sculpted every figure out of clay and individual craftsmen were contracted to fabricate the pieces into what they are today.
Sculptures are lined along the central axis of the park. Most stunning exhibit is Monolith. It's 14 meters high granite pillar, depicting over a hundred human figures, rising toward heaven. It was made from the single block of granite (as his other granite sculptures as well), and it took 14 years and three stone carvers to finished this magnificent work of art.
Vigeland's sculptures cover almost every possible aspect of human's life, emotion and life stage. They are highly realistic, but often very playful and with subtle messages. Monolith has different explanations. Someone will see it as attempt of mankind to reach spirituality and sense of togetherness, for some it will be phallic symbol and for some symbol of cyclic repetition. So, everyone has to decide for itself what is the symbolism in it, but I'm sure that anyone who saw it, will be impressed by it's presence.
The park itself is open, and there is no admission at the entrance. This makes it one truly enjoyable place, and lot of residents as well as visitors of Oslo is coming here to spend some free time. There are no signs that prohibiting to step on the grass or picnicking on the lawn or even climb on the statues. So, this is great place for the kids to play anyway they like, and quite often, brings out the hidden child in adults. It's normal to see whole families on afternoon picnics, or people sunbathing in summer. Actually, this is probably the only art gallery in the world (at least that I know), where is acceptable to be natural. Usually, places where artwork is displayed, are formal and with lot's of rules to be followed and observed. Here, everyone is free to do as like. If you come there, take something to eat and drink, sit on the grass, and let the world go by you for some time. Imagine that you are in the theater where everyone can take some role, so just join and play your own, or observe the others. Of course some rules have to be followed, just like in every other public place.
Anyone coming to Oslo should see this place, and spend some time there. Sunny summer day will be perfect, but I'm sure that rainy day can give one profound and different experience, because gray, rainy day might bring up different feeling of the place, and different message from this granite and bronze masterpieces.

From journal Norway, Land of Beauties

Vigeland Sculpture Park

  • January 3, 2006
  • Rated 4 of 5 by OsloShamster from Arkendale, United Kingdom
This is a beautiful park that should ideally be viewed earlier in the morning or near sundown for ultimate effect. We visited on a November Sunday morning around 10am, and the light was wonderful. It was great for taking photos and a relaxing walk.

From journal A big Taak to Oslo!

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