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Home  >  Blog  >  Art Attack in Oslo

Art Attack in Oslo

Trish Burgess Posted on01/08/201424/05/2016 Norway, Oslo 22 Comments

During our three days in Oslo, it was apparent that the Norwegians have a great passion for stimulating art. In previous posts I highlighted the fabulous artwork in our hotel, The Thief, and the incredible Vigeland sculptures in Frogner Park. But there is exciting art everywhere – in galleries and in public spaces.

The Thief is located in the Tjuvholmen area of the city, which is home to the new Astrup Fearnley Museum, a work of art in itself designed by Renzo Piano, renowned architect also responsible for a number of contemporary buildings such as The Shard, the Pompidou Centre (with Richard Rogers) and the Morgan Library in New York.

Free to Oslo Pass holders, the gallery contains some stunning works by Damien Hirst including the famous cow and calf in formaldehyde work, Mother and Child (Divided). There are pieces by Francis Bacon, David Hockney and Jeff Koons. While we were there they had a contemporary exhibition, Biography, by duo Elmgreen & Dragset: challenging installations such as a huge swimming pool with a body floating in the middle (his shoes remaining on the side). Their work continued into the cloakrooms: let’s hope no-one tried to use the urinals in there…

Elsewhere in the city art pops up everywhere – unusual sculptures on the street or in the water.

Here are some of my favourite examples:

Motorbikes transformed into art.
Known locally as ‘Rudolph the chrome nosed reindeer’
she lies. sculpture by monica bonvicini. oslo
‘She Lies’ by Monica Bonvicini, a 12m x17m steel and glass structure floating in Oslo harbour
Titi, Jeff Koons, Astrup Fearnley museum
‘Titi’ by Jeff Koons
he by elmgreen & dragset. oslo
‘He’ by duo Elmgreen & Dragset.
A partner for the Little Mermaid? He sits looking out of the window
onto the waters of the fjord.
moonrise east november oslo
‘Moonrise.east.november’ by Ugo Rondinone

 

MummyTravels

Previous Article 72 hours in Oslo – Part Three
Next Article Column catch-up

Related Posts

  • 72 hours in Oslo – Part Three

    29/07/2014
  • 72 hours in Oslo – Part Two

    24/07/2014
  • 72 hours in Oslo – Part One

    21/07/2014

22 Comments

  1. Sarah Reply
    01/08/2014 at 2:52 pm

    The motordeer is quite stylish, but I like Mr Potato-head with Zippy's teeth best. You can be silly with it too (always a plus). 🙂

    • Trish Burgess Reply
      04/08/2014 at 10:22 am

      That's a great description of the last sculpture!

  2. Steve Reply
    02/08/2014 at 9:15 am

    Not sure about Titi but She Lies is amazing.

    • Trish Burgess Reply
      04/08/2014 at 10:23 am

      There were a few pieces like Titi (or Tweety) by Jeff Koons – I quite liked them as you expected them to be just balloons but they were made of metal, usually stainless steel.

  3. Jay Reply
    02/08/2014 at 4:54 pm

    I love She Lies, I could stare at that for hours! Not sure about the last one, looks a bit like Barney the dinosaur to me!

    • Trish Burgess Reply
      04/08/2014 at 10:24 am

      A friend on Facebook thought he looked like Barney too!

  4. Sarah Ebner Reply
    06/08/2014 at 6:32 pm

    It's the reindeer for me – what fantastic art you saw. You have really sold me Oslo!

    • Trish Burgess Reply
      07/08/2014 at 11:25 am

      The reindeer wasn't easy to spot – in a little covered alley – which made it all the more thrilling when we saw him.
      So pleased to have sold Oslo to you, Sarah.

  5. BavarianSojourn Reply
    08/08/2014 at 9:06 am

    I really like the last one. You wouldn't have a bad day if that was in your garden would you? 😀

    • Trish Burgess Reply
      26/05/2016 at 8:53 am

      It makes me smile too – and pleased that, given enough stone, I might have been able to create it!

  6. Phoebe Reply
    24/05/2016 at 10:20 am

    I love the motorbike reindeer – so original! My desire to visit Oslo is getting bigger and bigger…I love cities with art all around. #citytripping

    • Trish Burgess Reply
      26/05/2016 at 8:54 am

      We always hunt out art on our city breaks – inside and out. Oslo was a super city to visit – lots of new development on the waterfront, a real cosmopolitan feel.

  7. Katy Reply
    24/05/2016 at 2:49 pm

    Having just come back from Copenhagen I like the Little Mermaid’s friend. Looking forward to visiting Oslo next year and checking out all the art. Thanks for sharing

    • Trish Burgess Reply
      26/05/2016 at 8:55 am

      Hope you enjoy your trip, Katy.

  8. Tanja (the Red phone box travels) Reply
    24/05/2016 at 4:38 pm

    I liked Vigeland park and the sculpture She lies. I didn’t see the other ones. #city tripping

    • Trish Burgess Reply
      26/05/2016 at 8:57 am

      I imagine some of the ones in the Astrup Fearnley museum may have changed now. The motorbike reindeer was hidden in an alleyway so we only came across him by chance.

  9. Cathy (MummyTravels) Reply
    25/05/2016 at 5:05 pm

    I had no idea there was so much art in Oslo – I do have a mixed reaction to some of it, the motorbike reindeer is clever but a lot of the rest leaves me a bit cold. Lovely to be able to visit somewhere with all these pieces getting you thinking though. Thanks for linking up with #citytripping

    • Trish Burgess Reply
      26/05/2016 at 8:58 am

      I agree – like or loathe, art is stimulating and everyone sees things differently. There was some very weird stuff in the museum that I didn’t like at all but I bet some people rave over it.

  10. Katja Reply
    25/05/2016 at 7:26 pm

    Wow! I had no idea that the Norwegians were so keen on weird and wonderful art. My kids would love Rudolph the chrome nosed reindeer but I think my favourite would be She Lies… #citytripping

    • Trish Burgess Reply
      26/05/2016 at 8:59 am

      ‘She Lies’ is a beautiful piece of art and you appreciate it more when you see it in situ, floating in the harbour near the very modern Opera House.

  11. the Pigeon Pair and Me Reply
    26/05/2016 at 9:09 pm

    I wasn’t in Oslo long enough when I stayed there recently. The only one of these I saw was She Lies! Hey ho, I’ll just have to go back there again I suppose…..:-)

  12. Elizabeth (Wander Mum) Reply
    31/05/2016 at 5:40 am

    How fantastic to come across all these works of art in the city. She Lies look like a spectacular structure. We are planning a trip to Oslo so this has made me even more excited about visiting. #citytripping

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