Reply #83: Humanity. [View All]

[TahitiNut]

The statuary is realistic and the figures have expressions on their faces, wrinkles, love handles, etc. They're posed in active postures ... struggle, play, etc. The park is a very popular place for Norwegians to picnic, play frisbee, etc. Vigeland died 3 months before I was born. My maternal grandparents (both Nowegian immigrants) said he was Norway's greatest sculptor and ranked with Henrik Ibsen and Edvard Grieg at the top of Norway's greatest artists.

I personally see them in the context of the "Norwegian psyche" (if there is one) ... unassuming and non-pretentious. It's a cultural faux pas to deliberately draw attention to one's self. "The highest nail gets hammered down." At the same time, devotion to craftsmanship and diligence runs strong and is highly respected. The park is somewhat "liberating" in that context ... creating an atmosphere that counters the "wound too tight" tendancy some adopt.


While I've never been there (as much as I'd like to), one of favorites is the child throwing a tantrum.