Olso. Capital of Norway. Gateway for many to the country’s stunning fjords. The city is home to some of Norway’s iconic sights, like the King and Queen’s Palace, Vigeland Sculpture Park, and the Viking Ship Museum. While strolling the through the great Nordic city, you might sense the call of nature, and begin a frantic search for a public toilet. If you’re in the Spikersuppa area, you’re in luck!
But you might be surprised by the three public toilets in Spikersuppa Square. Each toilet is stylized as a stripe of the French flag and they are topped with the words “Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité.” Turns out these are not just a quirky piece of public art, but have a much deeper meaning than meets the eye.
The toilets are the brainchild of the Norwegian artist Lars Ramberg, who created them to celebrate one hundred years of Norwegian independence, calling the work “a contemporary Statue of Liberty.”
What do French toilets have to do with Norwegian independence? It might seem like a bit of a stretch, but Ramberg wanted a French symbol as a base, figuring that the two nations shared certain democratic values. That presumably explains the words. Fine so far, but toilets?
Upon the unveiling of the work, known as “Liberté,” a local newspaper had this to say about the meaning: “The freestanding toilets are the smallest cells of public architecture, representing the smallest cell of the people. It offers privacy physically as well as psychologically, yet it is in public. Slightly manipulated and restyled, it supports the idea of individual freedom, physical hygiene and national identity, as a new statue of liberty for both countries.” Pretty heavy stuff to contemplate as you do your business. Even stranger, World War II speeches of Franklin D. Roosevelt, Charles de Gaulle and Norway’s King Haakon play from speakers inside the toilets when a patron enters.
Naturally, the toilets didn’t come without controversy; the cheeky concept suffered two years of public squabbling, debates, and attempts to flush the project before finally getting the go-ahead. It all started in 2003, with a competition to award an artist with a project to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Norwegian independence. Ramberg’s toilets won, but all hell broke loose as the museum where the toilets were to be placed rejected the idea as, understandably, crass and off the wall.
They were especially upset that the toilets were actually functioning, considering it a slap in the face to the noble idea of Norwegian independence. A debate ensued, resignations were thrown about, and the public joined in the fight. The toilets saw the light of day only after a new location, the Spikersuppa Square, was found. Sadly, they haven’t caught on as a beloved Oslo icon and leave most people scratching their heads.
The toilets are still fully functioning today (sort of), but have been mostly canned on Google Reviews due to frequently being out of order or quite dirty. Love them or hate them, you can’t deny Oslo needs more public toilets.
