Urban Art Association

Trip to Oslo, recommendations?, by met on Feb 20, 2016 8:56:28 GMT 1,

Jan 29, 2016 14:52:40 GMT 1 Feral Things said:

I would definitely recommend the Munch Museet (which is still far-and-away the best single-artist museum I've visited) and Nasjonal Museet.  As well as paintings like The Scream, Vampire and Madonna, they've also got several versions of Munch's portrait of his sister as she succumbed to TB, which is one of the most  hauntingly beautiful images that I've seen in the flesh:

An added bonus with Oslo's art museums is that about once a decade they let a visitor take The Scream away with them - you might get lucky!  Vigeland Park is also worth a visit to see hundreds of sculptures by Gustav Vigeland.

Galleri A shows some graffiti/street art and it's worth stopping by Hausmania. However, I found that there was generally very little graffiti in Oslo (although that might have since changed) but there was far more in Bergen and Stavanger; the train journey from Oslo is stunning.

EDIT: having just had a quick search, Etam Cru have a piece at Oskar Braatens Gate 4 and another in Schweigaardsgateand and there's a big Aryz at the intersect of Nordbygata / Tøyengata.

stradled — I discovered this thread late in the day, so you might have made your trip to Oslo already.

If not, I confirm the top three tips offered by Feral Things are excellent. My emphasis would only be slightly different:

1. Munch Museum: You cannot visit Oslo and not see this museum. Consider it a must. It's the reason Edvard Munch: The Modern Eye at Tate Modern in 2012 felt anticlimactic to me.

2. Vigeland Park: Also a must. And it's even better — more surreal and otherworldly — during the winter than in summer. Whether or not you appreciate Vigeland's sculptures, you're sure to come away with some great photos and conversation points.

3. National Gallery: This is often overlooked but really worth seeing. If you do go, please ask whether any of the security guards (who'd been watching the Winter Olympics on television while on duty) managed to keep their jobs after the theft in 1994 of that museum's version of The Scream. I never enquired myself and now regret not having done so.

4. Galleri A and Hausmania: Sadly, I'm unfamiliar with these venues and cannot therefore advise.

5. Viking Ship Museum: Worthwhile and interesting.

6. Oslo Opera House: Tourists love going to the rooftop of this building, for the view and to take selfies.


General advice: If you live in a large city, Oslo may come across as rather provincial. You mentioned planning to spend a week there. But unless you're stuck for work or family reasons, I'd argue three days was sufficient.

With a full week to play with, my own trip would definitely include a return train journey to Bergen. It's a very pleasant seven hours each way. And, as also previously referenced by feralthings, the scenery is quite spectacular — something you just won't be able to experience if your mode of transport is restricted to flights.

Jan 29, 2016 14:52:40 GMT 1 Feral Things said:

I would definitely recommend the Munch Museet (which is still far-and-away the best single-artist museum I've visited) and Nasjonal Museet.  As well as paintings like The Scream, Vampire and Madonna, they've also got several versions of Munch's portrait of his sister as she succumbed to TB, which is one of the most  hauntingly beautiful images that I've seen in the flesh:

An added bonus with Oslo's art museums is that about once a decade they let a visitor take The Scream away with them - you might get lucky!  Vigeland Park is also worth a visit to see hundreds of sculptures by Gustav Vigeland.

Galleri A shows some graffiti/street art and it's worth stopping by Hausmania. However, I found that there was generally very little graffiti in Oslo (although that might have since changed) but there was far more in Bergen and Stavanger; the train journey from Oslo is stunning.

EDIT: having just had a quick search, Etam Cru have a piece at Oskar Braatens Gate 4 and another in Schweigaardsgateand and there's a big Aryz at the intersect of Nordbygata / Tøyengata.

stradled — I discovered this thread late in the day, so you might have made your trip to Oslo already.

If not, I confirm the top three tips offered by Feral Things are excellent. My emphasis would only be slightly different:

1. Munch Museum: You cannot visit Oslo and not see this museum. Consider it a must. It's the reason Edvard Munch: The Modern Eye at Tate Modern in 2012 felt anticlimactic to me.

2. Vigeland Park: Also a must. And it's even better — more surreal and otherworldly — during the winter than in summer. Whether or not you appreciate Vigeland's sculptures, you're sure to come away with some great photos and conversation points.

3. National Gallery: This is often overlooked but really worth seeing. If you do go, please ask whether any of the security guards (who'd been watching the Winter Olympics on television while on duty) managed to keep their jobs after the theft in 1994 of that museum's version of The Scream. I never enquired myself and now regret not having done so.

4. Galleri A and Hausmania: Sadly, I'm unfamiliar with these venues and cannot therefore advise.

5. Viking Ship Museum: Worthwhile and interesting.

6. Oslo Opera House: Tourists love going to the rooftop of this building, for the view and to take selfies.


General advice: If you live in a large city, Oslo may come across as rather provincial. You mentioned planning to spend a week there. But unless you're stuck for work or family reasons, I'd argue three days was sufficient.

With a full week to play with, my own trip would definitely include a return train journey to Bergen. It's a very pleasant seven hours each way. And, as also previously referenced by feralthings, the scenery is quite spectacular — something you just won't be able to experience if your mode of transport is restricted to flights.