Sculpture Garden: Vigeland Sculpture Garden - Oslo, Norway

Interesting Places I've Photographed

Vigeland Sculpture Garden

Oslo, Norway

Topic: Sculpture Garden

Monolith

Children

Stairway Grouping

Fountain

Angry Boy

GPS: N59° 55.495; E010° 42.438

Quick Description: 

The Vigeland Sculpture Garden is located in Frogner Park, a large public park northwest of downtown Oslo.

Long Description:

Be prepared to be totally amazed. The Vigeland Sculpture Garden was created by Gustav Vigeland. It contains 212 works of art carved out of granite and cast in bronze and iron. The Vigeland Sculpture Park was constructed between between 1939 and 1949.

Sculptures are placed in five sections along an 850 meter long path on the side of a hill. From bottom to top they are: the Main Gate, the Bridge with the Children's playground, the Fountain, the Monolith plateau and the Wheel of Life.

On our tour of Oslo, we were wisely transported to the top of the hill and walked downhill through the sculpture garden. The sculptures are similar in theme and unlike any thing I've ever seen before. The theme of the sculptures is the journey through life and the struggle to become closer with the spiritual and divine. Human figures are all depicted nude and in contact with each other sharing their common path.

The focal point of the park is the Monolith, which represents represents all of humanity. It is 60' tall and contains 121 human figures depicting the cycle of life with figures struggling to reach the top of the column. The monolith is placed at the center of a circle surrounded by stairs. Groupings of three sculptures encircle the monolith, radiating from the center and down the stairs.


Description from the Official Travel Guide to Oslo Website:

"Vigelandsparken is one of Norway's most visited attractions with more than 1 million visitors every year.

The unique sculpture park is the life work of the sculptor Gustav Vigeland (1869-1943) with more than 200 sculptures in bronze, granite and cast iron. Vigeland was also responsible for the design and architectural outline of the park. A monumental artistic creation with a human message that is well worth seeing.

The park is open all year at all times and is a popular recreation area."