History and Art

 Our last day in Oslo was divided by two major attractions. We spent the morning at the Norsk Folkemuseum and the afternoon at the Munch Gallery.

The open air museum has gallery exhibits and about 160 historic buildings on it's grounds. The one I was most excited about was the Stave Church from the 1200s. Seeing it was one of my biggest goals of coming to Norway.

When you stepped out of the sunshine, into the shadows of the church, you could smell the centuries of smoke that permeated the timbers. The door frames and floorboards were worn from countless people, long gone. Seeing one of these churches has been a dream of mine since I first heard about them

Stave churches, from the 13th century, have Christian iconography and Norse carvings - gotta hedge your bets, in case this new-fangled religion is just a fad! 

There was a wonderful exhibit on the Sami people, the reindeer herders of the North, who have a distinct culture from the rest of Norway.

We saw many similarities between the Sami and Canadian Indigenous people

As we explored the exhibits and buildings of the museum we were struck by the sheer abundance of decorative painting and carving on every surface. The beams of storehouses were so intricately decorated that they could have been in churches. Every surface in a guest house was painted - walls, bed, cupboards - they must have really liked their in-laws!

From Ancient to Modern

The Munch Gallery is an awe-inspiring building that dominates the skyline at the pier. I have always been more of a museum person than an art gallery person. As far as art goes, modern is not my favorite genre - I'm more Gainsborough than Picasso! But this building was so intriguing that it called to us.

The building is 12 stories high, the top being the Skyview Restaurant and Bar. There are several floors of exhibits showcasing Norwegian and other artists. Two floors are dedicated to Edvard Munch. If you think you don't know him, you do. He painted The Scream. Not being an art aficionado, I didn't know that he was Norwegian. 

I have really come to appreciate audio guides. Not only do  they translate information into English, they often add to the experience as well. Art, even when it's eternal, was all created in a specific time and place. By a person who is a sum of their experiences and surroundings. Knowing the socio-political atmosphere that an artist created in adds so much depth. 

The audio guide also gave the perspective of many different artists, critics, and curators. Everyone views art from their own perspective as well. Some look at the rights of the working class, others at the growing feminism movement. Someone who spends their life with art can point out symbols or themes that I would not have known to recognize. (Like the subject of a portrait holding a wilted flower shows it was painted after they died.)

Munch was not interested in capturing a moment in time or creating an idyllic view of the world like the Romantics in years gone by. He wasn't creating decorations for someone's drawing room. He wanted to expose the things we didn't want to think about, he brought deep emotions to the surface. Edvard Munch had something to say, and he said it with paint.

Munch's work is disquieting. Being immersed in so much of it for hours has a profound effect. I would not say I liked his work, but I was affected by it. Many would say that's what art should do - trigger an emotional response.

Munch was not thumbing his nose at society and dwelling in the fringes. He was well respected as an artist in his time and with overwhelming support from friends and patrons, won a commission from the University to create artwork for their new building.

After the exhibit, I was unsettled and introspective, much like after the museum to Hans Christian Andersen. My horizons have been broadened and will never be quite the same again.