Our latest obsession is green spaces that incorporate art. It's absolutely refreshing. We know of many famous parks around the world, like the Luxembourg Gardens in Paris or Kensington Gardens in London, but integrating art into a useful open space is not so easy.
Located away from the city center, with a small forest around, long bike paths, streams, and over 200 sculptures of naked people, Vigeland Park in Oslo is a calm and magical place. When you step inside, you might even wonder: should I take off my clothes? When you're naked, you can be whoever you want, without your provenance, your religion, or your ideas. It's humanity in the deepest sense.
Today, we can easily identify with the sculptures that look just like us, instead of resembling people from the distant 1920s or 1930s. Everywhere around you, you see mothers, children, lovers, fighters. Maybe you can see yourself among them? The figures express all human emotions.
The Monolith is the park's centerpiece, standing nearly 18 meters tall and carved from a single block of granite. It consists of 121 intertwined human figures, symbolizing the human desire for salvation and unity.
The main theme of the park is the circle of life. At its heart lies the main fountain, encircled by 20 trees adorned with sculptures representing the four stages of life: childhood, adulthood, parenthood, and old age. The final tree features a skeleton, symbolizing death and illustrating how humanity returns to nature after death.
Gustav Vigeland not only created the sculptures but also designed the layout of the park, making it a great space for families to walk around, runners, and skateboarders. An easy life accompanied by such profound themes. We highly recommend you visit!
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