– I guess I was a bit surprisingly annoyed that the decision was taken, and thought it was a bit too easy a solution, says Erik Holm about the killing of the walrus Freya. – Then I thought no, let’s make a statue to honor her and remind us how selfish we humans are, both who made this decision, and people who failed to follow warnings not to be too close to her and bother her, says Holm to news. Erik Holm has made a joint to get a statue of the walrus Freya. Photo: private On Sunday morning, the news came that the walrus had been killed, which caused reactions around the world. Holm started an online fundraiser. In just three days, more than NOK 200,000 has come in. – The statue should remind us how selfish we humans are, who shoot peaceful animals because we don’t want them in our vicinity. And hopefully we will make smarter choices on the next occasion, he says. Do you think Freya should get her own statue? On Kadettangen or in Frognerkilen? Holm has received a lot of positive feedback after he started the splicing, but says that there have also been some negative comments. – It is mostly from “whatabouters” who may not have fully understood why you do something like this or think you should spend your money on something else. – Where do you think the statue should be? – I haven’t thought much about it, but it would have been natural if it had been close to where she actually was recently, answers Holm, and that brings us to the Kadettangen in Bærum . – Then he has to send an application and then it is normal that this goes to political consideration, says municipal manager for environmental technical services in Bærum municipality, Svein Finnanger. Walrossen also spent some time in Frognerkilen in Oslo. There, it is the municipality’s art collection that is responsible for the municipality’s investment in art in public buildings and spaces. The municipality has not considered how it should deal with a possible request for a walrus statue. – A good start, but not enough – This is fantastic! What a funny idea, says sculptor Merete Sejersted Bødtker when news calls and tells about the splice. She recently made the statue of skiing legend Ingrid Wigernæs and will also make the planned statue of Norway’s first female bishop, Rosemarie Köhn. Both are based on fundraising. Sculptor Merete Sejersted Bødtker thinks the idea of a Freya statue is good. Here she is with the model for a statue of Norway’s first female bishop, Rosemarie Köhn. Photo: Tiina Suhonen But: the sculptor does not think NOK 200,000 will be enough for a statue of the walrus. – It’s a good start, but I think that sum may have to be multiplied four or five times. But it also depends on the materials, the format and time spent, says Bødtker. Freya-ildsjel Holm says he is in contact with two artists. The next process is to choose which artist will get the commission, find a place where the statue can stand and decide on the appearance. – What pose would the Freya statue have if you were allowed to make it? – When she rolls over in these boats and really relaxes. She rested when she was on land, so it must have been a pose that shows she is cool. It would have been really fun to make a statue of her, says Bødtker. Holm believes that this must be up to the artist, but: – The favorite picture is when she is chilling on a jet ski.
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Have collected over 200,000 for the Freya statue – news Oslo og Viken – Local news, TV and radio
