Ekebergparken, Oslo's latest revitalisation effort, is a 64-acre public park that commands a front row seat high above the city, overlooking the harbour entrance, opera house and Astrup Fearnley museum. A historic site with remains from the Stone, Bronze and Viking Ages (and later the Second World War), the 120-year-old 'folkpark' experienced decades of neglect. That condition is now being remedied by Norwegian businessman and art collector Christian Ringnes, by way of nonprofit foundation C Ludens Ringnes Stiftelse.
Spread out along 3km of gravel pathways are 32 works of art - an art-themed scavenger hunt, if you like. The works span the ages, from classic masters like Auguste Rodin and Aristide Maillol to site-specific contemporary installations by James Turrell, Jenny Holzer, Dan Graham and Tony Oursler. Over the coming years some 80 pieces will be integrated into the park, where an emphasis is placed on maintaining the wild, forested grounds.
Sharing the space with dog walkers and joggers, visitors will start their art walk at Ekebergrestauranten, a beautifully restored functionalist building originally designed by architect Lars Becker, that houses several restaurants. Adjacent, two Swiss villas and an annex feature a visitor centre, small museum and the Karlsborg Spiseforretning café, as well as an activity centre for children. A stone's throw away are Dan Graham's 'Pavilion', Diane Maclean's 'Open Book' and James Turrell's 'Skyspace' and 'Ganzfeld'. For those willing to wander a bit further, artworks by Tony Oursler's, Jenny Holzer and Louise Bourgeois are worth the extra effort.
The location - identified as the backdrop scenery in Edvard Munch's 'The Scream' - also inspired performance artist Marina Abramović in the creation of her own version of the iconic work. In the same familiar setting, she's employed 300 Oslo residents in the release of emotions through outcry. The results are currently being documented and will be released to the public as an art film and book.
Oslo's ten-year-long cultural and urban growth spurt shows no signs of slowing down, a development at least partially fuelled by the generosity of its culture-thirsty citizens.
Graham's site-specific sculpture is highly architectural, letting the viewer experience the heritage park through a glass-encased structure
Elsewhere in the park, 'The Couple', by Louise Bourgeois, 2002, hangs by a thread from a tree branch
A reconstructed reservoir, the Vannreservoar, lies above two of James Turrell's sculptures, 'Ganzfeld' and 'Skyspace'. In the centre of the man-made, streamlined pond, the volcano-shaped tank of his 'Skyspace' work rises above the waterline
'Skyspace', by James Turrell
'Ganzfeld', by James Turrell
Through 'Open Book', British artist Diane Maclean unites the literary world with the natural world. Standing in front of the opened-up sculpture, the viewer experiences a reflection of the surroundings
Sarah Sze's intricate 'Still Life' - once displayed on New York's High Line - has found a new home at Ekebergparken
British sculptor Lynn Chadwick previously worked as an architect - a fact that shines through in this artwork, 'Ace of Diamonds'. Using the wind, the stainless steel mobile rotates elegantly around its own axle
One of Norway's most important contemporary artists, Per Inge Bjørlo has designed 'Indre Rom VI'
A narrow entrance in Bjørlo's structure opens up to a chamber where an organic, almost fluid shape protrudes from the back wall
A nod to the petroglyphs found in other parts of Ekebergparken, American conceptual artist Jenny Holzer has placed her work in direct dialogue with the park by carving texts into existing stone slabs
American artist Tony Oursler created a vibrant, site-specific installation, entitled 'Klang' that projects light, sound and video performance on screens placed within a hollowed-out rock formation
A close-up look at Oursler's installation
ADDRESS
Ekebergparken
Kongsveien 21
N-0193 Oslo
Norway
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