June 27, 2023

Vigeland Park

Vigeland Park is one of Norway's top tourist attractions, with over one million annual visitors. The park is open 24 hours daily and has free entry.

It was rainy and dreary when we arrived, but I didn't mind that so much as the discouraging rapid pace through the sculptures.

Gustav Vigeland's open-air gallery, with its design and architectural outline installed from 1924-1943, was amazing, with 200+ bronze, granite, and cast iron bold and striking depictions of the human form and facial expressions. 

As soon as you enter the park, you can see the distant granite Monolith sculpture at the top of the elaborate staircase depicting 121 female and male human figures of different ages clinging and floating together, with children crowning the top - perhaps interpreting this as resurrection and spiritual longing.

 

The Monolith.

The Angry Boy.

Cavorting children.

The struggles of parenthood.