– It is with pride that I declare the National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design open. Good luck with the day and wow! This is how Queen Sonja ended her speech during the opening ceremony of the National Museum before she completed the honorable task of cutting the cord. – Today we all get a new house, and art a new home, the queen said. The National Museum is located between Oslo City Hall and Aker Brygge. The building is as much as 55,000 square meters in size. Photo: Iwan Baan / Iwan Baan In addition to the queen, both the king and the prime minister were present when the new National Museum worth NOK 6.15 billion officially opened today. King Harald arrived at the National Museum’s opening ceremony on crutches. Photo: Christoffer Andersen / NTB – This is an anniversary in our nation’s history, said Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre during his speech. In addition, he chose to donate a piece of Norwegian design he thought was so important that it belongs in the museum. Namely his own old replaceable plastic ski tip. – What do you give a museum that has everything, Støre asked before he pulled up the orange ski tip, to great laughter from the audience. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre donated a plastic ski tip to the National Museum. A piece of Norwegian design he holds in high regard. Photo: Christoffer Andersen / NTB – There are even remnants of old ski lubrication on it, Støre said. All of Norway’s art collection – This museum is built to last for many hundreds of years, said museum director Karin Hindsbo when she spoke during the opening ceremony. – It is the whole of Norway’s art collection. It belongs to us who live today, and the generations that come after us. Karin Hindsbo is the director of the National Museum. Photo: Christoffer Andersen / NTB As many as 9 Norwegian ministers of culture have come and gone in the process towards the new museum. Several of them were present at the opening, including Abid Raja, who defended the building’s high price tag when he was interviewed by news. – If there is one thing we have a lot of in Norway, it is money, said Raja. Minister of Culture Anette Trettebergstuen believes that the building is not made for a special elite, despite the location and the price tag. Minister of Culture and Gender Equality Anette Trettebergstuen. Photo: Ilja C. Hendel / Ministry of Culture – This is not an elite project, it is the people’s, said Minister of Culture Anette Trettebergstuen. Architect’s trouble During the construction process, the architect, Klaus Schuwerk, has repeatedly criticized both Statsbygg and the National Museum. The main architect behind the National Museum is German Klaus Schuwerk. Photo: Geir Olsen / NTB It is, among other things, the signs on the facade, and the screens in the foyer, which has been the reason behind the quarrel. DISSATISFIED: The architect behind the National Museum, Klaus Schuwerk, does not like the logo on the National Museum’s facade. He rather wanted a discreet bronze writing over the entrance. Photo: Rolf Petter Olaisen / news The solution was finally that the National Museum, at the request of the German architect, made a list on its website of all the parts of the building that Schuwerk does not want on its mantle. – We must not forget that the museum has become as nice as it is because we have such a committed architect, says director of the National Museum Karin Hindsbo. Karin Hindsbo is the director of the National Museum. Photo: Beate Oma Dahle / Beate Oma Dahle A month ago, Schuwerk told news that he treats the museum as an enemy. Nevertheless, the architect was present at the opening. – One eye cries, the other rejoices, Schuwerk told news the day before the opening.
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– Today we all get a new house, and art a new home – news Culture and entertainment
