Peer Gynt competition a huge success

The closing date for entries to Selvaag Gruppen’s “Peer Gynt” sculpture competition was 1st March. 52 sculptors from 10 countries have presented more than 100 sketches for works inspired by the Henrik Ibsen’s play “Peer Gynt”. The competition jury will now select the sculptors who will be invited to send in a model of their work.

By the end of April, the jury will decide which sculptors will be invited to go on to the next phase of the competition. The jury is made up of Peder Lund (Lund Fine Art), Kim Brandstrup (Galleri Brandstrup), Kirsten Kokkin (sculptor), Vigdis Ystad (Centre for Ibsen Studies), Ellen Horn (head of the Norwegian National Touring Company - Riksteateret) and Ole Gunnar Selvaag (CEO of Selvaag Gruppen). Giving pleasure to thousands “The sketches we have received are of an exceptionally high quality, so the jury is facing a difficult choice,” says Ole Gunnar Selvaag, CEO of Selvaag Gruppen. “We are extremely pleased that so many artists wanted to take part in our sculpture competition, both nationally and internationally". Since the 1950s Selvaag Gruppen has included figurative sculptures in our housing developments to inspire and delight residents. This competition is part of the public artwork that will decorate Løren, a completely new residential district in Oslo, and give pleasure to thousands of people. Løren’s answer to Munch and Vigeland In Oslo the internationally famous Norwegian artists Munch and Vigeland are honoured with the Munch Museum and the Vigeland Park. The writer Henrik Ibsen is also world famous, but there are few monumental depictions of his works. Selvaag Gruppen decided to commemorate Ibsen by decorating Oslo’s new residential district, Løren, with scenes from his play “Peer Gynt”. Three pieces have already been ordered and will be installed around Løren during 2006, the centenary of Ibsen’s death. These sculptures are being created by the Norwegian duo Elena Engelsen/Per Ung, Jim Dine from America and Enzo Cucchi from Italy. For more information please visit http://peergynt.selvaag.no or contact: Marit Albertsen, tel: +47 2313 7108, mobile: +47 9158 2560