Vigeland's Sculpture Park is one of the highlights in Oslo, Norway. Gustav Vigeland constructed 192 sculptures that are all life size without the assistance of anyone else that are located throughout the park in which is especially designed for them. The park contains many different focal points these include the Fountain, the Monolith, the Bridge and many others. The main entrance of the park is though a giant wrought iron gate that includes designs of the human form on them. The bridge is lined with 58 bronze sculptures that portray the human form in the different stages of life and the relationships between people man and woman, adult and child. The Fountain is the main focal point of the park. It is also the earliest sculpture in the park. The center of the fountain has six giants that hold up the top of the fountain where water falls from it like a curtain. The giants represent the different stages of life that men go though by including life’s troubles and hardships. The most famous part of the park is the Monolith and the Monolith Plateau. The Monolith Plateau surrounds the Monolith and contains 36 groups of sculptures that depict the circle of life. The relationship between man and woman, family and old age is shown. In the beginning the statues are more basic however as time when on the statues became more detailed. At the very top of the plateau the Monolith is located. The column is 46 feet high and is carved out of a single block of stone. There is a verity of interpretations of what the column stands for. These include: man’s resurrections, the struggle for existence, man’s yearning for spiritual sphere, and the transcendence of everyday life. The last main sight in the park is the Wheel of Life. It is composed of figures swirling in an eternal circle to depict the circle of life.
By: Brittany Bruer, June of 2009
There was a feeling of peace when in this park. The sculptures, all displaying different people at different points of their lives, allow the viewers to relate to these and apply them to their own lives. Both times I attended this park, there were many people enjoying the outdoors, spending time with family and friends. I think that when Vigeland envisioned and created this park, he hoped that it would be a sanctuary for people. Life gets busy many times and people forget to slow down and enjoy nature and the people around them. This park is a special place for people to attend and is a very peaceful place.
ReplyDeleteErin Josephson
This was definitely a great place to go. Not only was it a beautiful but it was a great place to go see the culture of Norway. I remember when we visited this the first time we went, I think, the day before 17.Mai and everyone was just out laying in the sun enjoying the park. It was definitely the thing to do at the time and people were just relaxing around the sculptures even with the many tourists. A lot of them had little pick nicks out there and yes... we did notice that they would bring some beverages along. I don't think that it was a bad thing that they would do this because it just shows how different the Norwegian/ Scandinavian culture is compared to the strict regulations here in the United States. We could also see the importance of parks and other natural areas on 17 of Mai. That was where a lot of people went to hang out and eat ice cream. Whether it was by a beach,on an island, in the skog, or in a park, the Norwegians have a great love for the outdoors that was prevalent to see these days. It was great
ReplyDeleteErika Strom