It has taken a while, but after a number of setbacks and uncertainties, the iconic work of Norwegian painter Edvard Munch are about to move into a spectacular new waterfront location in Oslo. In fact, the iconic painting, The Scream and 40,000 works associated with Munch will be available for viewing by the public in a new glass and concrete high-rise Munch Museum.
The New Munch Museum in Oslo
Lovers of art have anticipated this museum opening for some time and it will be one of the most exciting openings of this year. It was 13 years ago that Oslo’s city council decided to build a new museum to house Munch’s art. Now the project is almost complete and the art will be moved from its original home in Tøyen on Oslo’s east side to the new location. The museum will be open and ready to welcome its first guests this spring.
The art collection is the largest of its kind in the world devoted to a single artist. The museum itself was designed by Spanish architects Estudio Herrero. It has 11 galleries spread out over 13 floors. Much of the museum space has been dedicated to the life and art of Edvard Munch and some pieces will be coming into the spotlight for the very first time. Besides Munch’s work, there are also works by other Modernist and contemporary artists on exhibit in the Munch Museum.
The New Museum
As mentioned before, it has been some time in the making. It was in 2009 that Estudio Herreros won the contract to design the new Munch Museum. After some uncertainty relating to the location and design, construction work began in 2016. The museum now stands tall on Bjørvika Bay, in a trendy new waterfront district of Oslo.
“The building is there, it has a powerful presence, and it is part of the city,” Juan Herreros said in a statement adding, “It says, ‘okay, here I am. I hold the legacy of the most important artist in Norway’s history’.”
Even better, the new Munch Museum is environmentally friendly. It forms part of the FutureBuilt collaboration, that aims at reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the construction and operation of new buildings. The museum was constructed using environmentally friendly steel and concrete. Meanwhile, the structure’s beautiful façade was crafted from a translucent aluminum, which shimmers against the water.
Cultural Oslo
The new Munch Museum is just one of many new cultural attractions launching in the city of Oslo. The museum is a few minutes’ walk from the new Deichman Library which was opened last summer. It is also close to the site of the National Museum in Rådhusplassen – Oslo’s city hall square. The National Museum is set to open in 2022 and will be the largest cultural center in the Nordic countries.
Make sure you visit the Munch Museum and other cultural attractions on your next trip to Oslo, Norway.
Share your thoughts in the Comments section below, on our Facebook Page, Follow Our Twitter Account or Head Over To Our Pinterest Page