Emanuel Vigeland Museum, Oslo

Hidden within Slemdal, Emanuel Vigeland's Museum stands as one of Oslo's best-kept enigmas. At the heart of this museum lies a dimly illuminated, barrel-vaulted chamber adorned entirely with fresco paintings. Covering an expanse of 800 square meters, the fresco titled "Vita" portrays the journey of human existence from inception to mortality, unfurling through dramatic and occasionally explicit erotic vignettes.

Throughout this space, groups of bronze sculptures echo an unwavering reverence for the enigma of procreation. Venturing into this establishment guarantees an unparalleled encounter. The impact of the softly lit frescoes, teeming with numerous unclothed forms, finds its crescendo through the room's extraordinary and overpowering acoustics.

In 1926, Emanuel Vigeland (1875-1948) erected this edifice, originally conceived as a forthcoming gallery for his sculptures and canvases. Yet, he later decreed that this institution should also double as his final resting place. As the windows were sealed shut, an urn containing his ashes found its perch above the entrance, encapsulating his legacy. Influenced by Italian archetypes, he christened this structure "Tomba Emmanuelle" (Emmanuel's Tomb).

On the 8th of December, 1959, the museum welcomed the public within its confines. Operating as a private foundation, its financial sustenance flows from Kulturetaten, Oslo Kommune.