The new National Museum in Oslo has opened its doors to the public. Here are 10 must-see exhibitions to discover during your visit.

After many years of development, including several lengthy delays, the new National Museum of Norway is finally open to the public. The “great gray box”, as critics have dubbed it, contains few clues as to its contents.

I recently took a trip to the capital and spent several hours wandering around the vast new museum. Whatever you think of the exterior, you can’t help but be impressed by what’s inside.

Presentation of the new National Museum

The new museum replaces four previous buildings, including the old National Gallery. It houses more paintings, contemporary art, design and crafts from the comprehensive collection than ever before.

“Norwegian politicians decided to combine these four collections into one to have an institution that can tell the whole story from antiquity to the present day about visual arts and culture,” said museum director Karin Hindsbo. .

As with the new Munch Museum, the exterior of the building has caused some controversy. Some call it gray and soulless, but I quite like the end result. It stretches out behind the Nobel Peace Center, so you don’t appreciate the actual size of the building from any angle.

With 13,000 square meters of exhibition space, the National Museum of Norway is larger than the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam and the Guggenheim in Bilbao. This presents a challenge for visitors to know what to see.

Just visited for the first time, here are my top ten suggestions for must-sees when visiting the National Museum.

You won’t find many paintings on this list, although the collection is colossal. This is no reflection on the quality of the artwork displayed in the enormous second floor.

Keep in mind that although the National Museum is vast, the entire collection is far greater than what is on display at any given time. This means that some exhibits may be removed at a later date. Some of the highlights I have selected below are also temporary exhibitions. I tried to note where it is.

reindeer skull curtain

There is a large amount of artwork born out of the protest on display in the museum. One of the most impressive, challenging and controversial is actually on display in the foyer.

Guests are greeted by a tapestry of 400 polished reindeer skulls – pierced with bullet holes – by Sami artist Máret Ánne Sara. It has been used as a symbol of Sami protest against Norwegian state policies for many years.

The fact that it is exhibited in Oslo is the result of long debates and negotiations. If the museum decides to remove the piece from the foyer, it must be returned to a museum in the Sámi region of northern Norway.

Edvard Munch Room

Without a doubt, the number one attraction for the new museum is the return of the Edvard Munch Room. While the waterfront Munch Museum delves into the heart of the artist and his work, the Munch Room showcases its highlights.

As Norway’s most famous artist, Munch’s bedroom is understandably popular. But as with the Old National Gallery, it’s much easier to view his famous works such as The Scream in relative peace compared to other art museums in Europe.

The royal paintings of Lena Trydal

At the top of the museum is the large, bright hall, by far the largest temporary exhibition space in Norway. Several pieces from the inaugural “I Call It Art” exhibition caught my eye here, but neither did Norwegian artist Lena Trydal’s colorful work.

It’s rare to see royal portraits look anything other than super formal, so these tongue-in-cheek portraits were a welcome sight.

Two oil paintings on canvas were exhibited. The one above depicting the royal family was created in 2021 as a second edition, while another featuring Princess Märtha Louise is from 2019.

As I write this, the current exhibit in the Light Hall is only on view for a few weeks.

norwegian fairy tales

Tales of mysterious and supernatural beings exist in all cultures, passed down from generation to generation. Norwegian folk tales often describe creatures such as trolls that inhabit forests and mountains.

This wonderful fairy tale room captures the spirit of the work with a tree at its center. Here you will find works by Erik Werenskiold and Theodor Kittelsen.

East of the Sun and West of the Moon

For fans of Theodor Kittelsen, the temporary exhibition “East of the Sun and West of the Moon” is a must. It is in place until the end of 2022.

The exhibition features 150-year-old drawings made to illustrate Norwegian folk tales captured by Peter Christen Asbjørnsen.

Many drawings are framed, such as ‘Once upon a time’ by Theodor Kittelsen, drawn for the story ‘The House Mouse and the Country Mouse’. Others are displayed in context with the stories.

Vigeland Plaster

Many visitors to Oslo go to Vigeland Sculpture Park. The granite and bronze sculptures are among the main tourist attractions in the city. Some of the most popular are the statues of children located along the bridge.

One of the reasons Vigeland was so prolific is that he did the majority of his work in plaster casts, leaving the actual sculpting to a team of assistants.

The park’s Vigeland Museum houses plaster casts of some of the famous sculptures. One of these casts is exhibited in the National Museum. The collection also includes many original sketches by Vigeland.

norwegian fashion designers

Norwegian fashion is presented to a wider audience than ever before in the new museum. I knew almost nothing about fashion in Norway, so it was an interesting learning experience for me.

Pieces by renowned Norwegian designers, including Per Spook and Peter Dundas, are on display, as well as young designers who are quickly gaining a reputation in the fashion world.

In another room, many items from Queen Maud’s and Queen Sonja’s royal costume collections are on display.

Blue dragons and white gold

This eye-catching porcelain vase decorated with a bright blue dragon is the centerpiece of a room tracing the history of ceramic art from prehistoric earthenware to fine porcelain, known as white gold.

The large onion-shaped vase dates from the region of Emperor Yongle (1403-24). In the early Ming period, porcelain production was perfected, but small imperfections are still visible.

The complete collection from China, Japan and Korea includes ceramics but also bronzes, lacquers, costumes and textiles.

Greek and Roman sculptures

A highlight of the museum’s early design rooms are the impressive Greek and Roman busts, sculptures and reliefs.

Part of the Face to face exhibition that presents the theme of the human condition through history and in the present, the exhibition includes large groups of 3D figures representing important myths and legends.

One of many located throughout the museum, a drawing station in this room allows visitors to draw their own version of the sculptures.

The history of Scandinavian design

As the design section of the museum moves through the timeline, we finally come to the birth of the now world famous Scandinavian design movement.

The exhibition covers furniture and interior design, industrial and graphic design, with a focus on Norway but with a global perspective. A curious addition to this exhibit is the Norwegian voting booth!

Have you ever been to the new National Museum of Norway? If so, what were your favorite pieces from the collection? Let me know in the comments.