She Lies

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She Lies (Norwegian: hun ligger) is a public sculpture by Monica Bonvicini made of stainless steel and glass panels measuring approximately 12 metres (39 ft) by 17 metres (56 ft) by 16 metres (52 ft) next to the Oslo Opera House, in Norway.

It is a permanent installation, floating on the water in the fjord on a concrete platform, 12 metres (39 ft) above the water surface. The sculpture turns on its axis in line with the tide and wind, offering changing experiences through reflections from the water and its transparent surfaces.[1]


Artist

The sculpture was made by Bonvicini as a three-dimensional interpretation of Caspar David Friedrich's painting The Sea of Ice (Das Eismeer) (1823–1824). The massive mound of ice depicted acts as a symbol of power in the region. Bonvicini won an international competition in 2007 for She Lies. She stated:

The synthesis of structure/skin/ornament explore the interface between nature and culture, or that of a cultural artefact. While reconstructing a famous Romantic painting, the work represents in a visual striking way the shape of an iceberg, as if one would have, by circumstances due to the global warming, ended up in the fjord in front of the opera house.[2]

Controversy

Since its installation, the sculpture has been the subject of considerable controversy with some viewers expressing strongly negative opinions, while others are extremely positive.

References

  1. "H.M. Queen Sonja Takes Part in the Unveiling of She Lies at The Opera". koro. 11 May 2010. Retrieved 2011-04-13. 
  2. "Monica Bonvicini - She Lies in Oslo". Art-Agenda.com. Retrieved 2011-04-13. 


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