Oslo Sculpture Park

Oslo to get giant sculpture park by 2014

Collector Christian Ringnes behind €39m project

OSLO - A substantial sculpture park has been given the go ahead for the Norwegian capital, over a year after it was first proposed by property investor and collector Christian Ringnes. He told The Art Newspaper that the park, on the city's Ekeberg Hill (about 15 minutes from the centre of Oslo), will be open by 2014, and "will add even more culture to the city".

Ringnes has donated NKr300m (€39m) from his private fortune to establish the "C Ludens Ringnes Foundation" to run the project. Around 80 sculptures by international artists will be on display. The original proposal had been to show only sculptures with a "feminine" theme, however this plan has been scaled back following criticism and even some derision (The Art Newspaper, June 2010, p3).

Four artists are currently working on commissions for the park: James Turrell, Dan Graham, Tony Oursler and Jenny Holzer. A total of 25 works have already been selected or been commissioned.

Ringnes is also understood to be considering the construction of a cable car to run in the park and has already purchased a well-known restaurant occupying a 1927 building half way up the hill.