Viking Magazine - September 2022 - 39

AMBASSADOR INSIGHTS
Making Art Accessible
BY ANNIKEN KRUTNES
s it just me, or
has the Oslo
art scene been abuzz
with exciting places
to explore lately? Last
October, the relocated
Munch Museum
opened its doors to
wide acclaim, giving
fresh life to countless
works by the famous
painter of " The
Scream. " This year, the
home of the biggest
collection of art in the
Nordic countries-the
Nasjonalmuseet, or
National Museum of
Art, Architecture, and
Design-welcomed
visitors to its new
building. The gray-slate
structure laid out right
beside the Oslofjord is the achievement
of architectural firm Kleihues +
Schuwerk.
Since June 11, guests from all over
the world have been able to step inside
and experience 6,500 works of art
of all kinds-twice the number the
museum was previously able to display.
The building's interior contains more
than 80 rooms spanning two floors,
including an enormous " light hall "
with walls made of glass and marble.
At night, this space is lit with 9,000
energy-efficient LED lights, making it
visible from within Oslo's cityscape all
the way from Gardermoen Airport.
The art collections cover a diverse
range of eras, styles, and disciplines.
The first floor focuses on design and
craftsmanship, while the second
floor follows the fine arts over time,
beginning from the 15th century. For
a taste of all the Nasjonalmuseet has to
offer, here are just some of the things
that greeted the public during its
@sonsofnorway
coronation gown can
be zoomed in on for
closer inspection.
The museum says
opening weekend.
" I Call It Art " gathered works from
contemporary artists all over Norway,
encouraging viewers to examine their
personal understandings of how a
work of art is defined. Fans of Theodor
Kittelsen, the well-known illustrator of
classic Norwegian fairy tales, had the
chance to view drawings so sensitive
to light that they're rarely displayed.
And every visitor experienced a first:
the accumulation of items from many
parts of the museum's collection under
one roof.
If all of this sounds up your alley
but you don't think you'll be able
to get to Oslo anytime soon, I have
great news-you can experience the
Nasjonalmuseet's online collection
no matter where you are in the world.
A grand total of 47,000 works of art
are available to view on the museum
website, and you can mark your
favorites and save them to reexamine
later. Everything from portraits to
drinking glasses to Queen Maud's
that its two objectives
are " to make art
accessible to each
and everyone, " and
" to reflect society
and the era in which
we live. " I think that
these are especially
important goals today.
Often, we're best
able to understand
new things about the
world when we view
them through art as a
filter. Artistic creation
and appreciation can
express emotions and
complexities in ways
that nothing else can-
and that gives it unique value.
I encourage you to go and experience
some art this month, whether in Oslo,
online, or at a museum that's local to
you. I hope you find something that
resonates with you. ▼
ABOUT THE
AUTHOR
Anniken Krutnes
is Norway's
ambassador to the
United States. An
expert in security
policy, the law of the sea and Arctic issues,
she has previously served as Deputy
Director General of the Department of
Security Policy, as Norway's Ambassador
for Arctic and Antarctic Affairs, and
as ambassador to the Netherlands and
Luxembourg.
facebook.com/
NorwegianEmbassyinWashington/
@NorwayAmbUSA
September 2022
39
PHOTO BY IWAN BAAN, ILLUSTRATION BY RANDALL NELSON
http://www.facebook.com/NorwegianEmbassyinWashington/ http://www.facebook.com/NorwegianEmbassyinWashington/
Viking Magazine - September 2022

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