Oslo Airport decided to celebrate Edvard Munch’s birthday (12 December 1863 — 23 January 1944) by displaying the original works of the artist for the travellers. A specially designed installation is placed in the Gardemoen’s new international terminal. It is the latest cultural experience available to travelers waiting at the airport.
Norwegian airport operator Avinor signed a 10-year contract with the Munch Museum to display works by Edvard Munch at Oslo Airport as part of the gateway’s art programme.
More than 15 million passengers passed through the international terminal during the 2017 (according to Avinor), and tens of thousands pass through it daily. Now, people will get a chance to admire the work of the iconic artist whose legacy is so significant to Norway and the whole world.
More than 15 million passengers passed through the international terminal during the 2017 (according to Avinor), and tens of thousands pass through it daily. Now, people will get a chance to admire the work of the iconic artist whose legacy is so significant to Norway and the whole world.
Every year, a new work from the museum’s collection will be exhibited in a specially designed display case.
The first work of art on display is Munch’s ‘Head by Head' (1905) (pictured) along with one of Munch’s lithography stones. The Munch Museum describes this work as shot through with "psychological tension," reminding viewers "how difficult it can be to achieve mutual trust, security, and affinity."
To be fair, this project has been in the works for some time now. Back in 2013, when Edvard Munch would have turned 150 years old, there was a huge anniversary show at the Munch Museum and the National Gallery, and works of the artist were on view at the airport as well. However, the works on display at the airport then were reproductions. This time, it is different.
Munch Museum. Photo: Håkon Mosvold Larsen / NTB scanpix
Next year, the entire artistic world will celebrate the 155th anniversary of the birth of Edvard Munch. In Oslo, the works of the outstanding Norwegian Expressionist are represented in several museums. First of all, this is the Munch Museum. It is here that since 1963 the artist’s heritage has been preserved and exhibited, which he bequeathed to the municipality of Oslo, including two versions of the famous "Scream" and his "Madonna" (1894−1895). In total, the funds of the Munch Museum list about 1100 paintings and more than 4,500 drawings.
Munch Museum. Hall view with the works of the artist. Photo: www.visitoslo.com
Scream
1893, 91×73.5 cm
By the way, the most famous version of the "Scream" (1893) is not stored in the artist’s museum, as many tourists think, but in the National Gallery in Oslo. There ou may also see his paintings "Puberty" (1894−1895), "Girls on the bridge" (about 1901), "The dance of life" (1899−1900) and "Sick girl" (1885).
Three girls on the jetty
1903, 91.5×78.7 cm
"The partnership with Oslo Airport gives the Munch Museum a completely new and exciting arena. Many thousands travel through that part of the terminal every day, so we will get a unique chance to introduce Edvard Munch to a completely new audience," Munch Museum director Stein Olav Henrichsen says in the Avinor announcement.
Follow us on Instagram
Title illustration: Edvard Munch’s painting on view at Oslo airport | Photo by Munchmuseet
Based on materials http://theartnewspaper.com, Munch museum’s official site, theculturetrip.com
Based on materials http://theartnewspaper.com, Munch museum’s official site, theculturetrip.com
