Munch Museum, Norway

Oslo is not only the capital of Norway, but also a city full of cultural heritage and artistic atmosphere. The art landmark that I am most looking forward to and fascinated by is the new Munch Museum (Munchmuseet) located on the harbor of Oslo. This new building was officially opened in 2021, replacing the old building and becoming a permanent base for collecting and exhibiting the works of Edvard Munch, a national treasure-level painter in Norway. Walking into this art gallery is not only about appreciating works of art, but also like stepping into the deep universe of Munch's emotions and life. A journey where the soul and art are intertwined begins. 1. Architecture and Geographical Location The New Munch Museum is located in Bjørvika, an emerging cultural and creative district in the center of Oslo. It is adjacent to the Oslo Opera House and the futuristic building Deichman Library. The overall area is modern and open, and the sea view makes people feel comfortable and at ease as soon as they step into this area. The museum building was designed by the Spanish architectural firm Estudio Herreros. It features a gray-white metal exterior and a sloping shape, like a slightly tilted tower. The simple and futuristic appearance also symbolizes Munch's artistic style that subverts conventions and emphasizes emotions and subjective perspectives. After entering the hall, there is a high, bright and modern space. Visitors can freely go to the exhibition areas on different floors, or look out at the Oslo Fjord through the glass windows. The entire building has thirteen floors, and its height and number of exhibition floors are quite rare among art museums in the world. In addition to the exhibition hall, there are also cafes, shops, educational spaces and observation decks to make the visiting experience more complete and diverse. 2. Munch and his paintings For most people, Munch's name is often associated with the world-famous "The Scream". However, after going deeper into the museum this time, I truly realized that Munch is more than just that distorted and screaming face. He is an artist who spans centuries and has a great influence in the history of modern art. Not only does Munch have a unique painting style, his themes are also profound and dark, often revolving around death, anxiety, love, illness and loneliness, making people feel the fragility of human nature and the reality of emotions. The works exhibited in the museum are not limited to paintings, but also include Munch's prints, photographs and manuscripts. His experimentation and mastery of media are amazing. For example, I saw his lithograph series "Jealousy" in one of the exhibition halls. It used the contrast of black and white to strongly show the emotional entanglement and inner conflict, which was very impressive. 3. Exhibition Planning and Traffic Flow This museum has a unique approach to curating. The exhibition does not adopt a traditional chronological system, but instead revolves around themes and emotions, rearranging Munch's works from different stages so that the audience can understand him from an emotional and ideological level. For example, there is a floor called "Anxiety and Loneliness", which exhibits works such as "Sick Child" and "House of Death". The space is designed to be dim and quiet, which enhances the sense of immersion when viewing. The other level explores Munch’s depiction of and emotional relationship with women. Exhibits such as Madonna and Vampire showcase his complex interpretation of love and gender relations. In addition, a special area is reserved in the museum to display multiple versions of "The Scream". I then realized that this work has several versions with different media and tones: charcoal, oil paint, and print. This kind of repetitive creation was very common in Munch's artistic career. He often thought about and changed the same theme over and over again to deepen his expression. 4. Combination of interaction and technology The new museum also fully integrates modern technology and interactive elements. For example, there is a digital interactive wall in the exhibition hall, where visitors can explore Munch’s creative context through touch, and even simulate the emotional fluctuations in the picture to understand the relationship between color and emotion. For young viewers or those new to art, this is an intuitive and inspiring way to learn. In addition, lectures, film screenings and live concerts are held from time to time in the museum, making the entire art museum a true cultural exchange platform rather than just a static art exhibition venue. 5. Impressions and inspirations After visiting the Munch Museum, I couldn't calm down for a long time. Munch's works are not as pleasing as Impressionism, nor as record of life as Realism. Instead, they delve into the inner self of human beings and unearth the most vulnerable and least visible parts of us. His brush is like a psychological analysis tool, expressing love, fear, illness, loneliness and other feelings that we are used to suppress in our daily lives in a strong visual way. I was particularly moved by a sentence by Munch: "Disease, madness and death are angels beside my cradle." This not only reveals the source of his creation, but also reminds us that everyone has anxiety and struggle in their hearts, and art may be the way to heal and understand ourselves. From Munch's paintings, I seem to have re-examined my own emotions and life experiences, and also better understood the loneliness and desire that are common to all human beings. VI. Conclusion The Munch Museum is not only a palace for collecting art, but also a mirror that allows us to see our inner self. Whether you are an art lover, a psychology researcher, or just an ordinary traveler, you can have a profound spiritual dialogue when you come here. For me, this visit was an encounter and dialogue with Munch, with myself, and with the dark depths of human nature. Just like the emotion expressed in "The Scream", sometimes our silent hearts are waiting to be understood and released. If you have the opportunity to set foot on Norwegian soil, don't miss this art museum that combines art, emotion and thought. It will make you think about the power of art and the depth of the human heart in a whole new way.