We’ve noticed lots of public art here in Oslo, especially outside. The most famous example is the Vigeland sculpture park. But honestly, the Ekeberg sculpture park blew us away. Ekeberg is located at the eastern end of the city and it is very high up on an escarpment with fantastic views of the harbour and the city. At the turn of the 20th century, it was all farm land. Over time the city of Oslo bought it. In 2013 Ekeberg opened as a sculpture park, run by the C. Ludens Ringnes Foundation. There are some lovely early 20th century buildings, a museum shop, and a café and a restaurant (also with spectacular views).
But it’s the sculptures that are most impressive, in number and in awesomeness, and also in their setting. We were expecting a nice green space with a handful of sculptures set out. Maybe a picnic bench. We were very wrong. (This is why it’s so great not to look things up in advance!)
Once we made the steep climb up, losing count of the steps, we found the restaurant, as well as a map and a semi-circular look-out post. (There’s also a tram stop, which takes you to the top: we took that for our second visit.) There are more than 40 sculptures in the park, displayed at a significant distance from one another. You feel as if you are in a regular park – or, really, a forest – and then all of a sudden you come upon one of the sculptures. Some of them, in fact, play upon this; they are unexpectedly different up close, or they change as you walk around them.
The artists represented are Norwegian as well as international, and include many famous names: not only moderns like Dali, Renoir, Maillot (and our old pal Vigeland!), but also contemporary works by Jenny Holzer, Damien Hirst, and Marina Abramović. New sculptures are regularly added. Many, not surprisingly, take advantage of the natural surroundings.
There are also a number of historical markers throughout, detailing the history of the site. It was once under water, an amazing thing to consider when you see its height! Over time it became inhabited first by hunter-gatherers, then by agriculturalists. The museum has a number of neolithic finds from Ekeberg.
But the main thing about the park is the art. Much of it is disturbing, in the way modern art is, and its setting makes a sharp contrast. We’ve been twice so far, and have at least one more follow-up trip planned, including to that fancy restaurant with the view!
