HODET N.N.
In Torshovdalen, Oslo, HODET N.N. rises seven metres above a park belt linking several neighbourhoods. Marianne Heske cast the bronze sculpture as a gigantic classic doll’s head. Red lines and numbers cover its surface, drawing on nineteenth-century phrenology charts about supposed abilities and character. The hollow interior leaves room for thought.
Heske found the original doll’s head at a Paris flea market in 1971, then returned to it throughout her work. She calls the sculpture a think tank. Beside the bronze head, a small amphitheatre creates a place for conversation, reflection, and views across Oslo and the fjord. The setting turns a giant face into a shared stage.
Torshovdalen became a park in the 1930s, preserving light, fresh air, and access to nature between Oslo’s neighbourhoods. The sculpture belongs to the Skulpturstopp project. Bronze, old pseudoscience, and an open gathering place give the valley its memorable focal point.
- City
- Oslo
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