Ørnulf Bast
Encyclopedia
Ørnulf Bast was a Norwegian
sculptor and painter particularly known for his public monuments.
(Statens kunstakademi) from 1927-30. He made several study trips, first to France from 1928 to 1929 and later to Britain, Germany, Greece, Italy, Spain and North Africa, including Egypt, 1930 and 1932, and a new journey to Paris 1937.
(1937), St. Hallvards brønn in Bragernes square
in Drammen
(1940-1952), Tvillingsøstrene (1947-1949) in Copenhagen
, Evig liv (1948-1949) at Sehesteds plass
in Oslo
and Ung kvinne (1946–47) at St. Hanshaugen Park
in Oslo
, and Kongens Nei (1949–50) in Elverum
.
Among his works were the identical bronze statues titles The Norwegian Lady
dedicated in 1962, which were placed in Moss, Norway
and Virginia Beach, Virginia
facing each other across the ocean. The statues were modeled after the figurehead
of the Norwegian bark Dictator, home ported in Moss, which foundered and sank in the Graveyard of the Atlantic
off the coast of Virginia Beach on March 27-28, 1891. Despite substantial lifesaving efforts from shore, seven persons died, including the captain's pregnant wife and four year-old son. The new statues re-established old ties between the two communities, and in 1974, they became sister cities. Annual events are held at the Bast statues.
During the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
, Bast and his wife supplied a cover-up apartment for the Norwegian resistance movement
, specifically for the Staff of the sabotage squad Aks 13000
, for some time. From 1947 until his death in 1974, Bast had a permanent residence in the summer at Fuglevik ved Rakke in Brunlanes
, south of Larvik
, where he also had his studio. Ørnulf Bast was awarded the King's Medal of Merit (Kongens fortjenstmedalje) in gold.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
sculptor and painter particularly known for his public monuments.
Background
Ørnulf Bjarne Bast was born in Oslo. His parents were Halsten Andersen Bast Birklund (1870-1952) and Ida Mathilde Kristensen (1870-1960). Bast studied at the Norwegian National Academy of Fine ArtsNorwegian National Academy of Fine Arts
The Norwegian National Academy of Fine Arts is a Norwegian university offering studies in the areas of specialization painting, photography / video / film, digital art, sound art, sculpture, installation, performance art, and art theory.-History:...
(Statens kunstakademi) from 1927-30. He made several study trips, first to France from 1928 to 1929 and later to Britain, Germany, Greece, Italy, Spain and North Africa, including Egypt, 1930 and 1932, and a new journey to Paris 1937.
Career
He completed a wide range of public memorials and decorations in a quiet style, characterized by a French-dominated class flight of sculptural tradition. Of note are Borregaard-monumentet in SarpsborgSarpsborg
is a city and municipality in Østfold county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Sarpsborg.Sarpsborg is part of the fifth largest urban area in Norway when paired with neighbouring Fredrikstad...
(1937), St. Hallvards brønn in Bragernes square
Bragernes
Bragernes is one of the central parts of the Norwegian city of Drammen.-Location:Bragernes is located on the northern side of the Drammen River and contains the famous town square Bragernes square , the town hall, the Drammen Theatre , Drammen park and most of the shopping and nightlife in Drammen...
in Drammen
Drammen
Drammen is a city in Buskerud County, Norway. The port and river city of Drammen is centrally located in the eastern and most populated part of Norway.-Location:...
(1940-1952), Tvillingsøstrene (1947-1949) in Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
, Evig liv (1948-1949) at Sehesteds plass
Sehesteds plass
Sehesteds plass is a square in Oslo, Norway.The square is modelled after Place Vendôme in Paris, and is named after the Governor of Norway Hannibal Sehested....
in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
and Ung kvinne (1946–47) at St. Hanshaugen Park
St. Hanshaugen Park
St. Hanshaugen Park is the first large public park outside the city center of Oslo, Norway. St. Hanshaugen Park is a classic city park located within the Oslo borough of St. Hanshaugen, named for the park which lies within its center. Years ago the park location was regarded as worthless and was...
in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, and Kongens Nei (1949–50) in Elverum
Elverum
is a town and municipality in Hedmark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Østerdalen. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Elverum...
.
Among his works were the identical bronze statues titles The Norwegian Lady
Norwegian Lady Statues
Norwegian Lady Statues are located in the sister cities of Moss, a coastal town and municipality in the county of Østfold, Norway, and at the Oceanfront in the coastal resort city of Virginia Beach, Virginia in the United States...
dedicated in 1962, which were placed in Moss, Norway
Moss, Norway
is a coastal city and a municipality in Østfold county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Moss. The city of Moss was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838...
and Virginia Beach, Virginia
Virginia Beach, Virginia
Virginia Beach is an independent city located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay...
facing each other across the ocean. The statues were modeled after the figurehead
Figurehead
A figurehead is a carved wooden decoration found at the prow of ships largely made between the 16th and 19th century.-History:Although earlier ships had often had some form of bow ornamentation A figurehead is a carved wooden decoration found at the prow of ships largely made between the 16th and...
of the Norwegian bark Dictator, home ported in Moss, which foundered and sank in the Graveyard of the Atlantic
Graveyard of the Atlantic
Graveyard of the Atlantic is a nickname of two locations known for numerous shipwrecks: the treacherous waters in the Atlantic Ocean along the Outer Banks of North Carolina and the Virginia coastline south of the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay at Cape Henry; and around Sable Island, off the coast...
off the coast of Virginia Beach on March 27-28, 1891. Despite substantial lifesaving efforts from shore, seven persons died, including the captain's pregnant wife and four year-old son. The new statues re-established old ties between the two communities, and in 1974, they became sister cities. Annual events are held at the Bast statues.
During the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
The occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany started with the German invasion of Norway on April 9, 1940, and ended on May 8, 1945, after the capitulation of German forces in Europe. Throughout this period, Norway was continuously occupied by the Wehrmacht...
, Bast and his wife supplied a cover-up apartment for the Norwegian resistance movement
Norwegian resistance movement
The Norwegian resistance to the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany began after Operation Weserübung in 1940 and ended in 1945. It took several forms:...
, specifically for the Staff of the sabotage squad Aks 13000
Aks 13000
Aks 13000 or Aks 13 was a sabotage squad which existed from 1944 to 1945, during parts of the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany in World War II. It was a part of the Norwegian resistance movement, specifically Milorg....
, for some time. From 1947 until his death in 1974, Bast had a permanent residence in the summer at Fuglevik ved Rakke in Brunlanes
Brunlanes
Brunlanes is a parish and former municipality within Larvik municipality in Vestfold county, Norway.-History:The parish of Brunlagnæs was established as a municipality January 1, 1838 . Small parts of Brunlanes were moved to Larvik in 1875 and to the neighboring municipality Stavern in 1883,...
, south of Larvik
Larvik
is a city and municipality in Vestfold county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the city of Larvik. Larvik kommune - has about 41 364 inhabitants and covers 530 km2....
, where he also had his studio. Ørnulf Bast was awarded the King's Medal of Merit (Kongens fortjenstmedalje) in gold.
Selected works
- Bronseløver, 1930–31
- Borregaard-monumentet, 1936–39
- St. Hallvards brønn, 1940–52
- Ung kvinne, 1946–47
- Tvillingsøstrene, 1947–49
- Evig liv 1947–49
- Stavernpiken, 1948–49
- Kongens Nei, 1949–50
- Fole, 1953,
- Kristian BirkelandKristian BirkelandKristian Olaf Birkeland was a Norwegian scientist. He is best remembered as the person who first elucidated the nature of the Aurora borealis. In order to fund his research on the aurorae, he invented the electromagnetic cannon and the Birkeland-Eyde process of fixing nitrogen from the air...
, 1960 - The Norwegian Lady, 1962
- Herman WildenveyHerman WildenveyHerman Wildenvey , born Herman Theodor Portaas, was one of the most prominent Norwegian poets of the twentieth century. During his lifetime he published 44 books of his own poetry, in addition to translations of William Shakespeare, Ernest Hemingway, and Heinrich Heine.- Biography :Wildenvey was...
, 1965–67 - Metamorfose av Nike fra Samothrake, 1966–67
- Skogsarbeideren, 1967–68
- Haakon VIIHaakon VIIHaakon VII may refer to:People* Haakon VII of Norway , King of Norway Ships* HNoMS King Haakon VII, a Royal Norwegian Navy escort ship in commission from 1942 to 1951...
, 1969 - Einar SkjæraasenEinar SkjæraasenEinar Skjæraasen was a Norwegian author and poet, a longtime resident of Trysil.He was a parliamentary ballot candidate for the Liberal Party from the constituency Oslo in 1957.-Bibliography:*Reflekser *Skritt forbi min dør...
-monument, 1970 - Pike med fugl, 1977