Works on Paper: The Fight for the keeping of Y bygget in Oslo designed by by Erling Viksjø with Picasso and Carl Nesjars “Fiskerne” relief
Torild Stray
The Fight for Y bygget with Picasso relief
Charcoal and watercolors on paper
2020
x m
During the struggle to preserve Y-blokka in Oslo, I created a series of works responding to the threatened loss of this landmark building. Designed by Erling Viksjø in collaboration with Pablo Picasso and Carl Nesjar, the building carried the monumental relief “Fiskerne.”
Despite international appeals — including strong recommendations from MoMA in New York and other leading cultural institutions — Norwegian authorities decided to demolish it. The relief has since been relocated, but the loss of the original structure remains significant.
