Knut Steen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Knut Steen
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Knut Steen, 2007
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| Born | 19 November 1924 |
| Died | 22 September 2011 (aged 86) Sandefjord, Norway
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| Nationality | Norwegian |
| Known for | Sculpting |
| Spouse(s) | Inger Dag Steen |
Knut Steen (born November 19, 1924 – died September 22, 2011) was a famous Norwegian sculptor. He spent most of his life in Sandefjord, Norway. Steen created many amazing sculptures for the city, like the well-known Whaler's Monument. You can also see many of his artworks at Midtåsen Sculpture Park in Sandefjord, which is a special park dedicated to his work.
Contents
Biography
Early Life and Education
Knut Steen was born in Oslo, Norway. He was the oldest of four children. When he was young, he had a serious illness called tuberculosis. He had a big lung surgery in 1951.
In 1944, he started studying at the Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry. The next year, he went to the Norwegian National Academy of Fine Arts. Some of his teachers were Stinius Fredriksen and the Danish sculptor Per Palle Storm.
Famous Works
Knut Steen is often remembered for his work at the Norwegian National Academy of Fine Arts with Per Palle Storm. His most famous and easily recognized artwork is the Whaler’s Monument (Hvalfangstmonumentet). This is a bronze statue that rotates and is located by the harbor in Sandefjord, Norway. The monument shows four figures of whalers with oars in a boat. It was first shown to the public in 1960.
The King Olav V Statue
In 2000, Steen was asked to create a statue of King Olav V of Norway. This project caused a lot of discussion. The statue cost about 2 million NOK (which was about US$317,000 at the time). Steen based his statue on a photo of the king in his military uniform. He showed the king in a serious pose with his right arm raised.
Some people criticized the statue because they thought it looked too much like statues of powerful leaders from history. Because of this discussion, the Oslo City Council decided not to accept the artwork. The statue was later placed in Gulen, another part of Norway.
Later Life and Legacy
From 1973, Steen lived and worked in Pietrasanta, Italy. He passed away in Sandefjord in September 2011.
The Knut Steen Foundation (Knut Steens Venneforening) has helped to create the Knut Steens Pavilion at Midtåsen Sculpture Park in Sandefjord. This pavilion displays Steen's works made from marble and bronze. The foundation has also opened his old studio in Pietrasanta for people to visit.
Selected works
- Monument to Fredrik Paasche, University Garden, Oslo, 1950
- Monument to Rudolf Nilsen, Rudolf Nilsens plass, Oslo, 1953
- Whaler's Monument , Sandefjord, 1960
- Landscape Pan, Gjøvik 1966
- Nike, Tromsø Maskinistskole, Tromsø, 1967
- Revival history, Hønefoss 1979
- Aurora and Sapfo, Concert Hall, Oslo, 1981
- Aurora, Government Building, Oslo, 1982
- Fantastico, Sandvika 1985
- Drømmersken, marble, Ekebergparken, Oslo, 1992
- Olav Kyrre, Bergen 1998
- King Olav 5, granite, 2006
Images for kids
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Whaler’s Monument (Hvalfangstmonumentet) at Sandefjord
See also
In Spanish: Knut Steen para niños
