Knut Steen

Knut Johannes Steen ( born November 19, 1924 in Oslo, † 22 September 2011) was a Norwegian sculptor.

Life

Steen was trained by Per Palle Storm and Stinius Fredriksen at the State Art Academy in Oslo. Because of tuberculosis disease Steen had only one functional lung. During the Second World War, so he worked as a doorman at the Oslo Emergency Hospital. Steen lived since 1973 in Carrara (Italy). His autobiography is titled From Garbage to Marble ( From waste to the marble ).

Work

Steen worked mainly marble. Internationally known is his sculpture of the Norwegian king Olav V. , The work commissioned by the Mayor of Oslo was originally to be set up in front of the city hall. However, this was of Norwegian politicians with the official justification, " that the work was too monumental ," prevented. The statue shows the extremely popular with the Norwegian people of King in military uniform and with Diktatorpose. The art historian Tommy Sørbø interpreted the eight-meter high plant as a " cross between Scrooge McDuck and Kim Il Sung ." The statue is now in the Norwegian Gulen.

In Sandefjord a whaling monument by Steen stands as a rotating fountain.

In a waterfall of the river Begna at Hønefoss is his sculpture Oppgangssaga.