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The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York has sent a letter to Prime Minister Erna Solberg, to Prime Ministers and party leaders, expressing concern over the decision to demolish Block Y.
– It is our hope and advice that you reconsider the demolition decision, writes MoMA.
– The demolition of the building will not only constitute a significant loss of the Norwegian architectural heritage. Any attempt to save or relocate Picasso’s site-specific murals elsewhere would also be unfortunate, distorting the artist’s intentions, they write in the letter.
It was VG who first mentioned the case.
The demolition of the Y block has created a huge compromise. The characteristic building in the government district contains several works by Pablo Picasso. The most famous is the “Pescador”, which is an integral part of the facade.
In a letter to the city of Oslo, with the Prime Minister in copy, MoMA advises preserving block Y.
Photo: Marthe Stoksvik
– A splendid copy
Later in the letter, the two MoMA leaders write that Picasso’s murals in many ways mark the beginning of the artist’s famous monument works, which are also found in cities like Chicago and New York.
– The work is a splendid copy of the notion of post-war “art synthesis” of the highest artistic level, writes the art museum.
The President of the Oslo Architecture Association, Tone Selmer-Olsen, is very satisfied with the support of New York, and believes that this letter testifies that Block Y is part of the architectural and artistic history of the world.
– That one of the world’s most renowned art and architecture institutions is helping us now is incredibly important. We just hope now that the message from public actions and from MoMA and New York arrives on time. Selmer-Olsen writes in an email to NRK that the government is pressing the pause button and taking time to investigate a conservation option.
Data on the Y block
- 1969: Block Y is completed in the government quarter. It was designed by the architect Erling Viksjø and is known as a late modernist work in Norway. Artists Carl Nesjar and Pablo Picasso are behind the works “The Fishermen”, which are seen on the wall in front of Akersgata, and “The Gull” in the lobby.
- July 22, 2011: The block is damaged in the bomb attack on the government neighborhood.
- June 2013: Draft selection committee recommends demolition of Y block and other damaged buildings. It refers to the high conservation costs and that the space can be better used.
- May 2014: The government decides to demolish the Y block and several other buildings. One reason is security concerns, as the building is partially on Main Ring 1. The two Nesjar / Picasso works will be preserved.
- June 2014: Statsbygg is tasked with starting work on the zoning plan for the new government quarter.
- June 2016: The proposed zoning plan is submitted for consultation. There are 140 entrances to preserve block Y, even from the national antiquarian.
- October 2016: Oslo City Council processes the zoning plan. Most, Ap and Right, support demolition.
- February 2017: The government adopts the zoning plan for the new government quarter.
- September 2018: The government presents a new sketch for the government quarter.
- June 2019: Storting majority joins government proposal for new government quarter. SV is not compatible with a partial preservation proposal.
- July 2019: The Planning and Construction Agency in the municipality of Oslo gives permission to demolish the entire Y block.
- November 2019: County Governor declares demolition decision legal, but asks government to reconsider matter. It is rejected by the government. Later that month, it is announced that the Ministry of Local Government and Modernization will consider new aspects of the case.
- December 2019: The City of Oslo Planning and Construction Agency awards the demolition commission even though the agency wants conservation. Therefore, the agency asks Statsbygg to wait for the demolition until the processing of the Ministry’s case is complete.
Sources: Government, Statsbygg, Store Norske Leeksikon, NTB
