Oceania, Sculpture
Oceania stands in the middle of Flakhaven, directly in front of Odense City Hall, large, nude and impossible to ignore. The monumental bronze sculpture by Svend Wiig Hansen has been part of the cityscape since 1992 and remains one of those artworks that spark curiosity and divide opinion.
A monumental human figure
Oceania was created by Danish artist Svend Wiig Hansen, who throughout much of his career explored the human body and themes such as love, fertility and the human condition.
The sculpture is approximately 2.5 metres high and more than five metres long. The reclining female figure is cast in bronze and placed directly on the paving stones of Flakhaven without a traditional plinth. This was a deliberate choice. Wiig Hansen wanted the work to be close to people rather than elevated and distant.
That decision has clearly left its mark on the sculpture. Over the years, many children have climbed on Oceania, and several parts of the bronze have become polished by countless hands and feet. In fact, children began using the sculpture as part of the square from the day it was unveiled, something that, according to local accounts, delighted the artist.
Why is she called Oceania?
The name Oceania refers both to the sea and to the mythology and symbolism that inspired Svend Wiig Hansen's work. Among his influences were the monumental figures of Easter Island and the story of Aphrodite, who in Greek mythology was born from the foam of the sea.
For that reason, Oceania is also associated with fertility, love and femininity, themes that recur throughout Wiig Hansen's work.
A sculpture that sparked debate
Oceania was unveiled at Flakhaven in 1992 and immediately became the subject of debate. The large and powerful female figure was not to everyone's taste, and both its design and its prominent location in front of City Hall were widely discussed.
Last updated by:VisitOdensejmjen@odense.dk
