Oslo is a land of art and sculpture, and every park, many street corners, even private dwellings seem to be studded with street sculptures - old and new, traditional and modern, with a fair number of them showing naked figures, reflecting the Norwegian attitude that revelling in the flesh is a sign of health and emotions. This refreshing admiration for human bodies is expressed in surprising ways.
(all pictures taken by me at Vigeland museum and park )
Norwegian values are seemed inextricably connected. There is something as being very balanced, modest, sane and healthy.
The Vigeland sculptures are the pinnacle of these cultural and national representations of health, harmony, spirituality and the human body.
Vigeland’s sculptures have not received the recognition
of those famous work as Rodin's sculptures for example. Vigeland park is his artistic
monument to humanity - to life, love, health, and human relations in all their
multiple forms. The Vigeland sculptures are unmistakably ideological in that
they represent a celebration of human bodies, female and male, that are au
naturel, lacking embarrassment or modesty, yet not salacious, their nakedness
just a normal part of life and it is a celebration of the cult of life and
nature.
Many meanings have been attached to Vigeland Park - either
from Vigeland himself or from the visitors. As an art history student and an
artist, visiting Vigeland park I had an inspiring experience. I walked through
the main gates and instantly appreciated the design expertise that went into
creating this space. I have gained a great appreciation for the implementation
of the design not only through its strong concept but also through the meanings
and symbolism represented by the design of the park and the sculptures.
It was an amazing journey through the mysterious and amazing
cycle of life, death, eternity and symbolism.
The total nudity of all the figures makes the park very
special. The statues are showing that they are not ashamed of their nakedness
and have nothing to hide. Vigeland made his sculptures in the way he did because
they help portray the evolution of man and he tried to unite man with the
nature. He also wanted that visitors to be able identify art with the nature
and whole his sculptures symbolize life and static human figures and visitors
as a part of it. The sculptures are very realistic in their emotions. They are
very detailed, showing how the time and emotions affected the human figure.
