Vigeland Sculpture installation, Oslo, Norway

Vigeland Sculpute installation, Frogner Park, Oslo, Norway

First off, it's not the Vigeland Sculpture Park or Vigeland Park. You can call it that, but you'd be wrong. And Norwegians will tell you so.  The park is named Frogner Park and the Vigeland sculptures are just a part of it.

Okay, now that that's cleared up, let's visit Oslo's most popular site.

Vigeland Sculpute installation, Frogner Park, Oslo, Norway

Gustav Vigeland is Norway's most famous sculptor and there are over 200 granite and bronze Vigeland pieces in the park. The most famous and imposing piece is the monolith, with 121 intertwined figures rising up almost 50 feet in the air. When you see it, you're sure to have a strong, visceral reaction. Some see it as humankind's reach for progress, others see a naked orgy, and still others see a mass of corpses, reflecting the Holocaust.

Monolith, Vigeland Sculpute installation, Frogner Park, Oslo, Norway

Vigeland himself has a complicated relationship with the Norwegian people. He is certainly respected, but, perhaps, not beloved in his homeland. That's probably because some see him as a Nazi sympathizer. 

Monolith, Vigeland Sculpute installation, Frogner Park, Oslo, Norway

Norway was occupied by Germany during WWII, and, like in all of Europe, did so with an iron fist, killing anyone who tried to oppose them. Vigeland, meanwhile, said he was happy when Nazi soldiers were present in his studio.

Vigeland Sculpute installation, Frogner Park, Oslo, Norway

If you look closely, or even casually, at Vigeland's work you might notice it has a rather Aryan look to it. Some of the figures appear boxy, and their expressions seem cold, leading some to believe that Vigeland was echoing Nazi artists who, in turn, were taking classic Roman sculptures, and creating their own German-lauding version.

Monolith, Vigeland Sculpute installation, Frogner Park, Oslo, Norway

Whatever your opinion, Frogner Park and the Vigeland sculpture installation are worth a visit.

If you go:
Oslo has an excellent public transit system. From downtown, take Tram #12, it stops right outside the park 

There is also a Vigeland Museum in Frogner Park. There are a lot more Vigeland sculptures inside. Admission is about $10 US, free admission with Oslo Pass.
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