Poseidon sculpture in Norway. Sculpture Park in Oslo - the grandiose creation of Gustav Vigeland

The theme of the park is “the human condition.” Most of the statues depict people engaged in various activities such as running, wrestling, dancing, hugging, etc. Each of the statues conveys a certain set of emotions, human relationships, often with deep philosophical overtones, which makes many compositions quite difficult to perceive, for example, a sculpture of an adult man who fights off a horde of babies.

Local residents actively use the park for games, outdoor recreation, and picnics. In March 2007, the park was subjected to vandalism - an unknown person or group of people pasted black paper scraps of paper on the nipples, crotches, and buttocks of all the sculptures in the park.

Park attractions

Main Gate

The main gate (wrought iron and granite) serves as the direct entrance to the park. They consist of five large gates, two small ones for pedestrians and two copper-covered checkpoints decorated with weather vanes. The main gate was installed in 1942 at the expense of the Norwegian Bank.

Bridge

58 sculptures are located along a 100-meter-long, 15-meter-wide bridge from the Main Gate to the Fountain. All these bronze sculptures correspond to the main idea of the park - “Human Temperament”. Here visitors will be able to see one of the park's most popular statues - "Angry Kid". In 1940, the Bridge became the first part of the park open to the public. Visitors were able to enjoy the sculptures while much of the park was still under renovation.

Playground

At the end of the bridge is the Children's Playground, a group of eight bronze statues depicting children at play. In the center, on a granite column, is an embryo. In addition, there is a pond where ducks and geese swim.

Fountain

According to the original design, the fountain, made of bronze and decorated with 60 individual bronze sculptures, was to stand in front of the Parliament building. The fountain, depicting children and skeletons on the branches of giant trees, symbolizes that death follows new life. Around the fountain lies a mosaic of white and black granite with an area of 1800 square meters. m. Vigeland worked on this monument from 1906 to 1943.

Plateau "Monolith"

The Monolith Plateau is a stone platform surrounded by steps that serves as the base for the central figure of the Monolith Park. 36 groups of people are located on a hill and symbolize the “circle of life.” Access to the plateau is through 8 figurative gates made of wrought iron. The gate was designed between 1933 and 1937. and installed shortly after Vigeland's death in 1943.

Monolith

At the highest point of the park, on a plateau, there is a central figure - the Monolith. Construction of the massive monument began in 1924, when Gustav Vigeland modeled it in clay in his studio in Frogner. The design process took him 10 months and Vigeland allegedly used several sketches designed back in 1919. Subsequently, the model was “frozen” in the form of a plaster model. In the fall of 1927, a block of granite weighing several hundred tons was delivered to the park from a stone quarry in Halden and was installed only a year later. A wooden canopy was built around it to protect the components. A plaster model of Vigeland was placed on the side as a reference to the sculptors of the project. The translation of the figures from the model began in 1929 and took three stone carvers about 14 years until final completion. On Christmas Day 1944, the public was allowed to admire the Monolith and a crowd of 180,000 people packed the wooden canopy to get a closer look at the creation. The shed was destroyed shortly afterwards. The tower body of the Monolith is 14.12 meters (46.32 ft) high and consists of 121 sculptures that rise to the heavens. This idea was meant as a person's desire to become closer to something spiritual and divine. The ensemble depicts a feeling of intimacy as the human figures embrace each other and are led towards salvation.

Wheel of Life

At the end of 850 meters of the longitudinal coordinates of the park, a sundial, forged in 1930, and, finally, a Wheel of Life, handmade from 1933-34, were erected. The wheel, to one degree or another, resembles a wreath depicting four people and a child, infinitely happy in their harmony. This symbol of eternity encapsulates the main idea of the park: the journey of man from the cradle to burial.

Museums

In the southern part of the park there are two museums - the Vigeland Museum, where you can see other sculptures, as well as drawings by the master, and the Museum of the History of the City of Oslo.

Working hours

From September 1 to May 31, Tuesday to Sunday 12.00-16.00. Monday is a day off. From June 1 to August 31, Tuesday to Sunday 10.00-17.00. Monday is a day off.

Entrance

Entrance to the park is paid. General ticket 50 CZK, discounted ticket and child ticket (from 7 years old) 25 CZK, children under 7 years old free.

How to get there

The Vigeland Sculpture Park is located at Nobels gate 32. The closest metro station to the park is Majorstuen. You can also get there by bus 20, 112 or tram 12, stop at Vigelandsparken.

In terms of the abundance of historically significant attractions, Oslo, which is still very young and slightly gloomy, can hardly compete with ancient European cities, literally full of majestic monuments of architecture and art. But he doesn’t need this. In the heart of such a distant and mysterious Norway, a truly unique atmosphere reigns with its own unique Scandinavian flavor. And I simply must begin our imaginary journey from one of the most ambiguous and hypnotic places.

Vigeland Park in Oslo is not just an open-air complex with a lot of sculptures. This is a real sacred open-air museum, where each image is the personification of human fall and satanic power.

Everyone who visited this unique architectural complex at least once could not leave without being impressed. This exciting place, imbued with mysticism, evoked strong conflicting emotions in me. The main and most attractive feature of the park lies in its “contents” - frankly strange, exciting, and sometimes even frightening images of naked men, women, and even babies. Personally, it was quite difficult for me to understand the deep meaning of such unusual sculptural compositions. Luckily, a couple of knowledgeable locals came with me on an impromptu tour. My companions kindly agreed to tell the generally accepted essence of the art that so stunned me.

How to get to Gustav Vigeland Park

Despite the fact that Oslo is the capital of Norway, the city is very small, so getting to the famous complex will not be difficult. You can get to the park by tram 12, which runs through the center, so finding the right stop will not be difficult.

In the area of the most popular place in the city - the Aker Brige embankment - the Nobel Center flaunts, and right in front of the building you will see tram tracks along which tram number 12 runs. You need to drive literally 15 minutes to the Vigelandsparken stop in the direction from the fjord. Alternatively, you can take a leisurely stroll to the main gate of the park - this will take about 30 minutes. Just stick to the tram tracks. The tracks diverge in one place, so don’t forget to check at the stops that you are following the route of tram number 12. The exact address of the park is Kirkeveien, 0268.

By the way, I was very pleased that you can visit such a cult place at any time of the day and completely free of charge. Behind the central gate there is a tourist information center, a souvenir shop, and a cozy cafe where you can have a tasty snack. Right in front of the entrance I was greeted by a sculpture of the author of this creation, which, by the way, is the only “dressed” one in the park. It is with a brief biography of the sculptor and the history of the creation of this amazing open-air complex that I will begin.

A little history

The official opening of the park took place in 1940. The author’s idea correlated perfectly with the Nordic racial theories popular at that time. Today, the Norwegian authorities claim that the complex began to be built up long before Hitler came to power, so it has nothing to do with the propaganda of nationalism. We can only guess what motivated the creator of this mystical place and what goals he pursued.

And now, actually, about him. Gustav Vigeland, still a young nineteen-year-old boy, went to Oslo from a small provincial town in 1915, determined to become a great sculptor. In the capital, he was expected to meet the then famous sculptor and mystic Bernjulf Berglslein. It was thanks to his mentor that young Gustav became interested in philosophy and Judeo-Christian mysticism. Gradually, images of lizards and dragons began to appear in the works of the promising young artist, personifying human sins and the demonic principle. But Gustav Vigeland paid the closest attention to human nature, which, in his opinion, is much more complex and stronger than all the devilish forces combined.

In 1921, city authorities decided to demolish the sculptor’s house and build a library in its place. As a result of long negotiations, Vigeland still managed to “knock out” a new house for himself, and at the same time the territory of Frogner Park, in the design of which the master tried to reflect his subjective view of human essence. And it seems to me that he managed to do it as figuratively and effectively as possible.

Central gate to the parallel world of Vigeland

A beautiful forged gate with images of naked men, apparently excitedly discussing something, leads into the park. It must be quite strange and unexpected for an uninformed visitor to see such disconcerting and provocative sculptures literally filling the entire surrounding space.

When I first came to this frankly strange place, I even felt a little dizzy, so I immediately warn all overly impressionable people to be prepared for truly shocking art. If I visited the park not on a beautiful sunny day, but, for example, in cold cloudy weather, I would definitely think that I found myself in a real hell.

But my companions remained completely unperturbed throughout the entire walk. It was they who told me that the author did not at all intend to create a monumental hell on Earth. It is believed that Gustav Vigeland wanted to demonstrate the weakness and helplessness of modern humanity in the face of its vices, and also to show that the only true meaning of life lies in the pursuit of bright higher powers, in the fight against one’s own demons.

The brightest attraction of the park

If you take a short straight walk after entering the park, you will see a hundred-meter-long luxurious bridge, approximately 15 m wide, decorated with lanterns and numerous sculptures. If you count, then on the granite parapets there are a total of 58 bronze statues - men, women, old people, babies - in small groups and individually, with blissful smiles on their faces and grimaces twisted either from pain or from unbearable suffering.

All the figures on the bridge, as well as throughout the park, are naked, but the sculptor did not at all strive for ideal proportions of the human body. Vigeland Park presents to the astonished public the prototypes of the most ordinary people with all their physical disabilities. According to the author, modern art no longer needs to glorify divine ideals.

My companions explained to me that Vigeland’s man had long ago abandoned God, convincing himself that he could take his place with dignity. And whether humanity copes with such a difficult task or only suffers from the unbearable weight of its burden - the viewer can only guess. As for me, the author makes it clear that the person most likely chose an impossible road.

The Vigeland Sculpture Park features a large number of babies in a variety of emotional states - from anger to hysterical laughter. Personally, for example, I was incredibly impressed by the angry baby, you can see him in the photo above.

Later I found out that infants in such sculptural compositions often personify one of the human vices. Thus, the figure of an adult man frolicking happily with a small child demonstrates his self-indulgence. And a person who is tormented by several babies at once is trying to break out of the shackles of his own egoism.

Source of the Gods' Wisdom

Walking along the bridge, it was as if I had found myself in another other world - with an unusual fountain.

In Scandinavian mythology, there is such a concept as “Urd” - the source of divine wisdom. This is what the sculptor tried to depict in the form of a fountain with a bas-relief border and 20 bronze trees. This is a kind of parody of the Garden of Eden, where a godless person, instead of enjoying the Garden of Eden, turns into a tree and becomes part of it.

And yet - the desire for God and enlightenment

On one of the hills of the park there is a unique composition - a Monolith, consisting of intertwined human bodies. I found this sight a little repulsive, but at the same time fascinating. There are a lot of theories about what meaning the author put into this work: a prototype of the Tower of Babel, an attempt to climb the divine Olympus, challenge the Creator, and so on.

Everyone interprets what they see in their own way. My accompanying people, by the way, very nice and positive people, insisted that the Monolith symbolizes humanity’s desire to return to spirituality and God, to pray for forgiveness and the return of faith. Perhaps I will agree with their version.

Zodiac Clock and Wheel of Life

Moving deeper into the park, we came to a small square with a giant Sundial and images of the Zodiac Signs.

My friends told me that the clock appeared at this place in 1940, that is, long before the unprecedented growth in the popularity of horoscopes and zodiac signs. That is why many experts see a mystical devilish message in this sculpture, presenting it as a kind of altar of demonic religion, designed to turn people away from God.

Another composition that caused a storm of emotions in me is the Wheel of Life - a symbol of eternal life and infinity of rebirth. Some art critics attribute this sculpture to an attempt to make an evil parody of our cruel and devoid of spirituality world, but I personally did not think so at all.

The Vigeland Sculpture Park is something that is definitely worth a look at least once in your life, regardless of your interests, preferences and views on the surrounding reality. Vigeland's sculptures are so provocative and controversial that each visitor can discern their own unique meaning in them. If you’re in, be sure to check out this “hot” place - you’ll suddenly discover a completely new meaning of such extraordinary and daring art.

Gardens are different. For example, in the shade of a cherry orchard you can enjoy the summer coolness and pleasant breeze. But in Norway there is a real Garden of People. And this Garden was created by a Norwegian genius -

In order to become a sculptor, it is enough to have golden hands and good taste - to have anal and visual vectors. But brilliant sculptors are, first of all, those who also have a sound vector, like Gustav Wigenland.

Anal-visual artists create beauty. People with a sound vector condemn thought to this very beauty. You admire the first, but you also think about the second. Seriously and for a long time.

The Garden of People, as the Vigeland Sculpture Park in Oslo is often called, is not just a manifesto of the master’s life and not just a reflection of his views on the world. This is an amazingly subtle work, an attempt to convey the psychology of people - so different and at the same time so identical - in stone and metal. Human life from conception to death. If you look closely, you can find Freudian motifs in some sculptures (which we will see a little later). In other works there are common cultural symbols - a circle, a bowl, a snake, a tree - and folklore themes.

Gustav Vigeland's view of life is imbued with sound experiences and the search for answers to eternal questions. However, the entire Park is one big search and an attempt to formulate a clear answer. Who is this person? Why does he come to this world? What does he leave with? What happens next?

On the other hand, this could not have happened without the sensitive work of the visual vector, because most of the sculptures also subtly convey emotions. They are all as if they were alive: shades of emotional states are conveyed not only by their faces, but also by every muscle, every gesture and semi-gesture.

Almost all the sculptures presented in the Park are naked. Women, men, old people, babies... no one has clothes. Their bodies are imperfect. These are not the Venus de Milo or the Apollos. These are ordinary people. Naked and real. After all, a person with an anal vector always strives to display the truth: as it is, the naked truth, without embellishment. Clothes hide a person's true intentions, and in Vigeland's sculptures, every muscle conveys the depth of emotion. Here they are naked to the viewer's eye. Naked truth, naked emotions. Look and listen!

Let's take a walk through the Garden of People and try to understand what Gustav Vigeland wanted to convey to us.
Where does a person's life begin? You can find the answer to this question by going down to the Children's Playground of the Sculpture Park, which is located very close to the Bridge. Many tourist notes write that Gustav Vigeland depicted children's games here. But that's not true.

In the center of the composition is where each of us began – the embryo. A soundly sleeping upside-down baby, already a completely real person. Now he feels good and calm, but a little more - and he will step into this world, cold, unfamiliar and scary. In the meantime, he sleeps and dreams about Paradise, milk rivers and jelly banks.

The playground is an illustration of the first year of human life, the most important and longest for any person. Here the baby is still lying on his back. But he turned over on his stomach and raised his head. He's still sitting here. And here the baby is already trying to get up. A little more - and he will straighten up, take the first step and become a real person.
The rest of the Garden of People is precisely an illustration of that very human life in all its manifestations. For example, on the Bridge there are 58 sculptures dedicated to the relationship between a man and a woman and the relationship between adults and children - in all possible colors and shades.

Here you can also find four babies, personifying the four human temperaments. The most famous of the little ones - the choleric in anger - has long become the emblem of the Garden of People and the object of the tender love of tourists, who strive to hold his menacingly clenched fist.

On the bridge you can see a whole gallery of such different fathers. Here, for example, is the happy head of a family with twins. And not far away - another father, waving away the babies who flew at him, as if in an attempt to escape, to free himself. Here is a dad playing with his child. And here dad is beating his son, who has been naughty for a long time now. Here you can meet all kinds of mothers, but, for the most part, they are all caring and affectionate, unlike such different fathers.

The relationship between a man and a woman is depicted just as differently. Vigeland showed both an ideal relationship - a man and a woman move synchronously, carefully repeating each other's movements - and relationships that are far from ideal - the partner is trying to get rid of the girlfriend of his heart who has tightly clung to him and with all his might he wants to throw her off like a leech.

Just beyond the bridge we find ourselves in front of the amazing “Burden of Life” fountain, which represents the cycle of human life: from birth to death. Life is not such a simple thing: everyone carries it in their own way, just as people carry a bowl in the center of a fountain. And for a person with a sound vector, life often seems like nothing but continuous suffering. He is not happy that he was born, he is not happy about such a limited human body, and that is why life for him is not a joy, but a burden.

Along the perimeter of the fountain there are compositions embodying certain stages in a person’s life. All the heroes of the compositions sit in a tree - the same tree of life, called Yggdrasil by the Scandinavians - the fundamental principle of all living things.
Here is the tree on which the babies hung. Lots and lots of babies hanging from the branches in clusters like fruits of life. For now they are all together, in their little flock. Shake the tree and awaken one of them to life! On another tree we see a lonely baby who is carefully listening to something. Yes, this is a child with a sound vector, who in this pure and clear call suddenly realized himself, his Self.

In other compositions one can discern both the pangs of puberty and the problems of adaptation in society. Here is a tree where all the children play together: they communicate, socialize, and very close, in the branches of a neighboring tree, there is a lonely boy who has no time for the fun of his peers. He looks dreamily into the sky and thinks about God. On another tree is a young girl who bashfully covers her changing body and froze in anticipation of adulthood, as if preparing to jump into the pool headlong, like a swallow.

On the trees of life we will see the first love, and the first loss, and loneliness, and harmony. And happy offspring, and even death. All human bodies are closely intertwined with tree branches. Someone's tree bears fruit, but someone else's tree has completely withered. The last tree is scary. A skeleton sits in it. Death as it is.

But don't be afraid. After all, very close to death is the very first tree with clusters of babies. Life has completed its cycle and started a new circle: it has returned to where it began. Death is followed by rebirth, as evidenced by the bas-relief depicting a baby sitting on the bones of a dead animal. The wheel of samsara rotates continuously.

Around the Fountain, a grand labyrinth with numerous passages and traps is tiled on the ground. For the sound artist, the labyrinth is a metaphor for life and the search for truth. The more you look for a “way out,” the more confused you become. The path to truth is not as simple as it seems. Try it yourself!

The culmination of the Garden of People is the Monolith Plateau, in the center of which is a grandiose 17-meter obelisk (Monolith) - the pinnacle of Gustav Vigeland’s work, about which he will say: "This is my religion."

The monolith is a tall obelisk consisting of many human bodies. People move towards the light, move up the pillar, supporting each other and helping to climb up. Below are the dead bodies of those who could not withstand the general struggle for life, and the elderly. Closer to the top are the most persistent and young ones, who throw the baby to the very top of the Monolith. The upward movement is both a movement towards the light, and a desire to comprehend the divine, and a movement into the future. Despite the fact that man is a wolf to man, people help each other, because they know that no one can survive alone. That no one can reach the top if there are no other people. The flock is moving upward, people are concerned about the continuation of themselves in time, so they throw up a baby - the personification of the future of all humanity.

Around the Monolith there are many figures, continuing the theme that began on the bridge. People, people, people... in joys and sorrows, in love games and grief. And, perhaps, there is no point in describing each individual figure - you need to see and feel it.

Vigeland Park (Oslo, Norway): detailed description, address and photo. Opportunities for sports and recreation, infrastructure, cafes and restaurants in the park. Reviews from tourists.

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Statistically, Vigeland Park is one of the most visited attractions in the Norwegian capital, and there are no less local residents than tourists. The main reason for this popularity is more than two hundred sculptures by the national sculptor of Norway Gustav Vigeland, picturesquely located in the expanses of a well-kept park. But the central place in this plein air exhibition is occupied by the gigantic Monolith monument, which depicts with stunning realism the meaninglessness of the race for success.

What to see

Vigeland Park is the perfect open-air museum. In addition to the fact that the landscapes of the park are very beautiful, there are many paths and comfortable places to relax, in Vigeland Park you can touch the beauty without breaking away from nature: among its green lawns, most of the creative heritage of the sculptor Vigeland is exhibited. There are 212 sculptures in total. Made of bronze or granite, they touch human life in all its manifestations: here you can see lovers, beggars, and a mischievous boy merging in a fit of passion.

Vigeland Park

The main masterpiece of Vigeland Park is the Monolith sculpture, 14 meters high, rising on a hill in the center of the territory. On this colossal block of stone, Vigeland depicted 121 human figures in one pose or another, each of which strives to reach the top at any cost. The creation of this large-scale composition took 14 years of daily work by three stonemasons - indeed, nothing can stop the Norwegians in the name of the idea (remember Thor Heyerdahl and his Kon-Tiki journey). On the steps of the Monolith pedestal you can see another interesting exhibit: sculptures depicting the entire spectrum of human emotions and activities.

Norway seems like a cold country with enchanting views and Scandinavian flavor. A country of fjords and trolls, mountains and waterfalls. Tourists from all over the world come here for the scenery, fresh air and, of course, impressions. Most tourists begin their acquaintance with the capital - Oslo. It is there that the most controversial attraction in all of Scandinavia is located - the Vigeland Sculpture Park.

Rarely a tourist visiting Oslo will bypass it. After all, this is the largest and most interesting park in Norway. Most who visit this place have mixed impressions. And it’s not surprising, because you don’t see a sculptural complex representing the era of the Third Reich every day.

What is interesting about Vigeland Park?

Vigeland Park is located in the heart of Norway, its capital - the city of Oslo. It is located in the Frogner area. The site is part of the central royal park Frogner. The uniqueness of this open-air complex is that it is not our usual park, exalting the strength and beauty of nature. The Vigeland Sculpture Park in Oslo is a museum with a sacred meaning, objects of which reflect satanic forces and are the quintessence of the fall of man.

There is another vision: some researchers believe that the exhibits are closely related not to Christian symbolism, but to Scandinavian mythology, displaying the cycle of life and death as it was seen during pagan times. One thing can be said with confidence: each sculpture is imbued with the imagery and symbolism of different cultures. This is the main reason why it is different from thousands of other sculpture parks around the world.

History of creation

The park was designed and created by Gustav Vigeland between 1907 and 1942. The history of the park began with the fact that it received an order from the government to make sculptures depicting the great personalities of Norway. By that time, Vigeland was already a fairly famous and promising sculptor with his own style of work. Even in his early years, symbols of sin and satanic forces that reflected the essence of man began to be traced in his work.

The year 1921 was a turning point in the master’s work. The house in Oslo, in which he lived and worked, was designated for demolition by the city authorities. During a lengthy trial, the authorities allocated Gustav another building and part of Frogner's territory, but with the condition that all future works of the master would belong to the city. This is how Gustav Vigeland Park was born.

Over the next 20 years, the sculptor thoroughly remodeled Frogner and created a completely new open-air museum of his work. Over the years, the park has been modified and remodeled many times, some sculptures have changed their location. Vigeland worked on it until his death.

Vigeland Park today

Now the park occupies an impressive area of 30 hectares. Much of the project has remained unchanged since Gustav's time. Oslo authorities are trying in every possible way to preserve the authenticity of the place. On the territory of the complex there are 277 sculptures reflecting the diversity of human conditions and relationships between people.

In general, the main theme of the park can safely be called the human condition. Most of the monuments depict people in moments of different states, in dynamics, which allows their true emotions to be revealed. In terms of the psychological nature of his works, Vigeland can be compared with such researchers of human psychology as Jung and Freud. He did not simply convey his vision of human emotions with the help of sculptures, but first subjected them to in-depth analysis in order to express his plans as accurately as possible.

The psychological nature of sculpture is something that only a virtuoso and a true master of his craft can master. And if you add to this the depth of analysis and the creepy demonic symbolism of all the sculptures, you get a truly delightfully terrible collaboration.

The most significant sculptures in the park

It is impossible to convey the complexity and versatility of each sculpture in words. Even photos of the Vigeland sculpture park cannot reflect half the grandeur of this work. But we will still try to talk about several of the most famous and monumental sculptures.

The main gate is the first exhibit from which your acquaintance with Gustav Vigeland Park begins. They are made of granite and wrought iron. The project was created in 1926, but the final version was seen by the world only in 1942 and was sponsored by the state.

The entire structure includes five large gates and two small ones. The forged doors are decorated with the same forged images of the Serpent, which in the biblical tradition is a symbol of the unclean and the devil himself. This first exhibit acts as a kind of warning for visitors, so that they understand “from the very beginning” where they are going.

The exhibit amazes with the scale of its composition. The bridge itself does not exceed 100 m in length and 15 m in width, but its main feature is the sculptures that are installed on the parapets along it. The structure was built between 1925 and 1933.

There are 58 bronze figures on the granite parapets. There are groups of people, and lonely women, children and men. Like the ancient masters, all the figures are naked, but if the Greeks sang the beauty of the human body, then in Vigeland they are depicted with pronounced flaws. The sculptures on the bridge are a reflection of the passions and whims of man.

The location of each exhibit in the park is no coincidence; for example, on the level below the bridge there is a children’s playground surrounded by figures of children. It symbolizes the origin of life on the border of worlds: below is a river and the path to the world of the dead, and above is a bridge with people and their passions.

The exhibit, if you follow the world built by Gustav, is already on the other side - in the other world. The fountain - this symbolizes the source of wisdom Urd from Scandinavian mythology. According to legend, this source gave wisdom to the gods. Therefore, the sculpture looks gloomy, majestic and impressive, like Scandinavia itself.

The Fountain is surrounded by 20 bronze trees that parody the Garden of Eden. But if in Christian scripture people inhabit Eden, then in Vigeland’s vision the trees of the garden are people. The fountain project was created back in 1924, but it received its final location and appearance in 1924.

The Monolith plateau rises above the park territory. The sculpture depicts an intertwining of human bodies that rises to the sky. Each figure of the monument is worked with amazing care and skill. The symbolic component of this exhibit can be interpreted in many ways. This is both a new Tower of Babel and an assault on the gates of heaven carried out by humanity. What remains obvious is that humanity has failed in its arrogant attempts.

The first draft of the Monolith was drawn in 1919. However, its implementation took 14 long years, during which three masters completed this amazing work. In 1947, an additional 36 granite sculptures were installed on the steps leading to the statue. The monolith, like many other sculptures in Vigeland Park, depicts the cycle of human life with all the variety of situations and emotions experienced in them.

Wheel of Life

The exhibit represents figures of people intertwined in a circle. It is made of bronze and has a diameter of three meters. This garland of bodies symbolizes the life cycle, the path from birth to the grave and from death to rebirth. A cruel cycle of rebirth in this world with no hope of peace or another outcome.

The sculpture is nothing more than a sundial of monumental size, with the signs of the Zodiac depicted on it. The sculpture was erected back in 1940, at that time horoscopes, and the signs of the Zodiac in general, were not popular among the population. The Zodiac Clock is a symbol of a new religion, which was created by the devil to distract humanity from God and his truth.

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When and how to get to Vigeland Park

As a rule, Oslo is the first city visited by tourists in Norway. Therefore, sightseeing of the country begins from here. But in an unfamiliar city it is quite difficult to navigate transport and get to your destination, even if you know approximately where the right place is.

Vigeland Park in Oslo in the photo looks smaller than it actually is, so it will be difficult to drive through it

The most convenient way to get to the park is by tram 12. Its route passes through the heart of Oslo, so you won’t have to search for long. The easiest way to find your way is from the Aker Brige embankment. In this area you can easily find the Nobel Center just opposite the tram tracks.

You just need to walk to the stop and wait for tram number 12. Drive about 15 minutes to the Vigelandsparken stop. Alternatively, you can walk to your destination. If you follow the route of the tram tracks, you definitely won’t get lost.

The Gustav Vigeland Sculpture Park is open to visitors 24 hours a day, summer and winter. Entrance is free. However, it is worth considering that exploring the park will take a lot of time and it is best to go there in the morning to return to the hotel in the evening.

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Vigeland Park in Oslo is a unique example of park architecture that you can only see in Norway. You cannot come to Oslo and ignore such a large-scale and interesting attraction. Therefore, be sure to go to the Vigeland Sculpture Park if you are in Norway.