Vigelandsparken, also known as Frognerparken, is one of the most popular places to meet for people living in Oslo. In summertime you will find hundreds of Norwegians having a picnic or barbecue, or playing among the famous sculptures. The park is also a popular place for a stroll in the winter.
One of the most famous sculptures is the Monolith. The column is over 14 metres tall and carved in one single stone. It consists of 121 human figures. There have been many interpretations of the Monolith: Man's resurrection, the struggle for existence, Man's yearning for spiritual spheres, the transcendence of everyday life and cyclic repetition.
Gustav Vigeland modelled all his sculptures in full size without any assistance of pupils or other artists. The carving in stone and the casting in bronze were left to a number of talented craftsmen.
Vigeland also designed the architectural setting and the layout of the grounds with their far stretching lawns and long straight avenues bordered with maple trees. The construction of the park lasted for a number of years.
Those who visit the park may see the original full-size plaster casts to the sculptures in bronze and granite in the Vigeland Museum, which is situated five minutes south of the park.
