The National Museum

On 11 June 2022 the new National Museum opened in Oslo. This is the largest museum in the Nordics. The new museum now consists of the collections of the former National Gallery, the Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Norwegian Museum of Decorative Arts and Design.

The new museum has a permanent exhibition of about 6 500 objects. Design, arts and crafts, fine art as well as contemporary art will be exhibited alongside each other. As such, the permanent exhibition highlights interesting connections between different collections that previously have been on show at three different museums. Additionally, audiences will be able to see the most famous paintings by the Norwegian painter Edvard Munch, including The Scream (1893) and Madonna (1894).

The building was designed by Kleihues + Schuwerk Gesellschaft von Architekten, with emphasis on dignity and longevity over sensationalist architecture. Great care was given to achieve a balance with the museum’s surroundings and the existing monuments in the area, such as Oslo City Hall and Akershus Fortress.

The most eye-catching feature of the new museum is the large, illuminated exhibition hall on top of the building. It will be used for temporary exhibitions. The rooftop terrace offers a unique view of the inner Oslo fjord. The square in front of the main entrance has become an urban meeting place, with benches and a café that invites you in to take a rest.

The National Museum of Norway has a total surface area of 54 600 m2. Within it there is room for over 100 000 art items. Visitors can enjoy a permanent exhibition of approximately 6 500 art collections. The surface of the Light Hall is 2 400 m2. Here visitors will find temporary exhibitions.

https://www.visitoslo.com/en/articles/national-museum/

Photo: randreu