Queen Sonja has helped celebrate an important anniversary for one of Norway’s best known art museums.
The Astrup Fearnley Museum in Oslo is known for its impressive collection of contemporary artworks. It marks its 30th anniversary this week and its jubilee exhibition was opened by Queen Sonja.
Called ‘Before Tomorrow;, it consists of more than 100 works from artists all over the world, but primarily Europe.
During the opening, the Queen of Norway gave a speech in which she said: “What a day! The Astrup Fearnley Museet celebrates its anniversary. Quite a milestone – 30 years! There is indeed a reason to celebrate. I have had the pleasure of following the museum closely from the opening in October 1993 to the completion of the wonderful new building in 2012, designed by the world-renowned architect Renzo Piano. This building gave Oslo and the art world an outstanding venue for contemporary art.”
Queen Sonja was a friend of the museum’s founder, Hans Rasmus Astrup, who died in 2021, and she had warm words for him, too, saying ”Today’s celebration is also a tribute to founder, Hans Rasmus Astrup. I had the pleasure of being one of Hans Rasmus Astrup’s friends and I am very gratfeul for having had the opportunity to experience his enthusiasm, great knowledge and philanthropic generosity. He was very generous, always with a witty remark and with a smile on the sly – at times a real prankster.”
The Astrup Fearnley Museum has made a name for itself through its innovative exhibitions and its commitment to promoting artistic expression. Visitors can experience a varied mix of paintings, sculptures and installations by internationally recognized artists.
