Faldbakken's Upholding Memorial Unveiled in Oslo
This summer, a striking stone mosaic titled 'Upholding' (2026) by Matias Faldbakken was unveiled in Oslo's new Government Quarter as a memorial for the victims of the 2011 terrorist attacks in Oslo and Utøya. Curated by KORO (Public Art Norway), the selection process involved a public seminar at the National Museum of Norway in June 2024, where ten artistic teams presented their ideas. The memorial boasts a red steel exterior and an interior made of about 300,000 stones, created with Milan's Fantini Mosaici and input from attack survivors. It features a greenshank bird motif, representing Utøya, and includes raised lettering of the 77 victims' names. Unlike the previously scrapped 'Memory Wound' by Jonas Dahlberg, Faldbakken's design effectively addresses security issues and offers a unique, forward-looking perspective.
Key facts
- Matias Faldbakken's 'Upholding' (2026) is a national memorial in Oslo's Government Quarter.
- The memorial commemorates the victims of the 2011 terrorist attacks in Oslo and on Utøya.
- The work was curated by KORO (Public Art Norway) and selected by a jury.
- Ten groups presented proposals at an open seminar at the National Museum of Norway in June 2024.
- The mosaic uses around 300,000 stones produced with Fantini Mosaici.
- The memorial includes a greenshank bird motif and the names of the 77 victims.
- The process was more transparent than the earlier 'Memory Wound' proposal by Jonas Dahlberg, shelved in 2017.
- Faldbakken's design is considered secure against vandalism.
- Faldbakken discussed the alt-right and trolling in an interview with Paragone.
Entities
Artists
- Matias Faldbakken
- Jonas Dahlberg
- Pablo Picasso
- Carl Nesjar
Institutions
- KORO (Public Art Norway)
- National Museum of Norway
- Fantini Mosaici
- AUF (Workers' Youth League)
- Paragone
Locations
- Oslo
- Norway
- Utøya
- Tyrifjorden
- Milan
- Italy