Oslo artists recreate 1914 human zoo, sparking national controversy over historical racism
In 2014, artists Lars Cuzner and Mohamed Ali Fadlabi from Oslo launched European Attraction Limited, aiming to recreate Kongolandsbyen, a human zoo from 1914 located in Vigelandsparken, Oslo. This initiative, unveiled in 2013 to mark Norway's bicentennial, sought to confront the collective forgetfulness surrounding this chapter of history rather than to label Norway as racist. However, the announcement drew criticism, with groups like Norway's Centre Against Racism arguing that only racists would appreciate it, while neo-Nazi threats of violence emerged. The village opened in mid-May 2014, devoid of formal exhibits or black participants, evolving into a playful space. The project later redirected its focus to current moral anxieties, with Cuzner encountering threats and accusations of racism. The original Kongolandsbyen, inaugurated by Norway's king, attracted over half the country's population.
Key facts
- Kongolandsbyen (Congo Village) was a 1914 human zoo in Oslo's Vigelandsparken exhibiting 80 Africans for five months during Norway's constitutional centenary
- Artists Lars Cuzner and Mohamed Ali Fadlabi announced European Attraction Limited in 2013, recreating the zoo for Norway's 2014 bicentennial
- The project sparked major controversy, with Norway's Centre Against Racism criticizing it and neo-Nazis threatening arson
- When opened in mid-May 2014, the recreation had no formal exhibits—people freely inhabited the huts instead
- Over half of Norway's 1914 population visited the original Kongolandsbyen, which was opened by the king
- Most opposition came from left-wing circles, with accusations the artists were racist
- Cuzner removed his contact details due to threats, and the artists faced media mockery and wild rumors
- The project shifted focus from historical racism to contemporary moral panic and liberal guilt
Entities
Artists
- Lars Cuzner
- Mohamed Ali Fadlabi
- Guillermo Gómez-Peña
- Coco Fusco
- Sigurd Johan Heide
Institutions
- Norway's Centre Against Racism
- ArtReview
Locations
- Oslo
- Norway
- Vigelandsparken
- Europe
- North America
- Uganda
- Belgium
- Senegal
- Congo