He then made the labyrinth that surrounds the fountain's ground. Then he expanded outward in all directions. The Labyrinth is black and white mosaics in granite. It forms a pattern with a path extending a distance of nearly 3000 meters (2 miles). The design has 16 circles enclosed by square frames all linked together. Each circle has the same basic pattern, but all details are different. What I find interesting is that there is no center to the Labyrinth because and exit. "The Labyrinth is a meaningful adjunct to the sculptural world of the Fountain; it may be interpreted as an image of the journey through life with its twists and blind alleys until, with great patience, the way out is found at least."(4)
The Monolith Plateau has eight entrances through wrought iron gates, then circular stairs rise towards the Monolith. On these stairs are 36 groups in granite. Each group contains at least two figures, not exceeding two meters high and the figures are all over life-size. Only some of the children stand upright and all the adults sit or kneel firmly anchored to the plinth. "Their huge and solid forms convey the impression of an earthbound human race."(5) The Monolith is a column that consists of 121 figures that were modeled by Vigeland in the years1924- 1925. "It has been named the Monolith because it was carved out of a single block of stone."(6) The figural part of the Monolith is 14.12 meters high and the total height is 17.3 meters. The Monolith was taken from a mountain at Iddefjorden, on the south-east coast of Norway, and in its final shape weights approximately 180 tons. The Monolith was carved where it is located now with a shed covering it and the full-size plaster model. "Three stone carvers worked on the column daily from 1929 to 1943."(7) The Monolith was finished just before Vigeland died. The Monolith was finished just before Vigeland died. The Monolith is completely covered by human figures in relief, singly or in groups. "At the bottom there are seemingly inert bodies. Above them figures ascend in a spiral, the movement halting midway and then rising at a faster pace towards the summit which is covered by small children. Vigeland himself has compared the movement of the figures to a wave which rises, curves and finally ebbs away."(8) Some figures drift unconsciously upwards, and others struggle not to fall or lift and support each other. "One of Vigeland's few recorded comments on what the Monolith represents:
Close to the Monolith is the Sundial which is mounted on a 12-sided granite pedestal bearing circular relief's depicting the Zodiac symbols on it. I believe in horoscopes from the stars. The Wheel of Life (1933-1934) is linked to the cycle of life theme. It consists of four adults and three children linked together in a circular composition. The sculpture is three meeters in diameter. It shows the interdependence of human beings. Man and woman will always rely on each other because without woman or man the human race can not continue or expand.
To connect the main entrance of the park to the fountain Vigeland used a bridge over a small lake and as his plinth to mount 58 single or groups of statues in bronze (1926-1933). The Bridge seems to concentrate more on children than adults or old people than other sections. The statues on the bridge represent two ways of life, the sheltered life, and the life where you are set out one your own to find out about life. It also depicts mother and child, father and child, and man and woman relationships. At two points in the Bridge it widens. On one side is a sculpture of a man and woman linked together in a rotating motion showing the continual attraction between the sexes. It also looks like a version of the Eastern symbol of 'Yin and Yang'. On the other side is a man fighting to break out of the ring. As I mentioned earlier that four of the statues were not naked, these statues are located at each end and corner of the bridge. They were a part of a new project when the fountain was to be placed in the Palace Grounds.
Below the Bridge is the Children's Playground. It is a circular area with eight bronze sculptures of small children placed around the circumference (1940). In the center, mounted on a small granite column, is a figure of an unborn child, head down (1923). The children surrounding the fetus depict the earliest stage of life. The children seem to almost glow with laughter and happiness.
The Main Entrance has five large gates and two smaller pedestrian gates in wrought iron. On the gates are wonderfully crafted designs of lizards. It shows how skilled the smithies were because of the elaborate details. Railings curve outward on each side and is ended by two small gate houses. The final designs were made in 1926. In 1930 Vigeland changed the style of the upper parts of the gates, by replacing the original lanterns.
4. Tone Wikborg, guide to the Vigeland Park in Oslo (Oslo: Normanns Kunstforlag as, 1991), p. 16
5. Tone Wikborg, guide to the Vigeland Park in Oslo (Oslo: Normanns Kunstforlag as, 1991), p. 25
6. Tone Wikborg, guide to the Vigeland Park in Oslo (Oslo: Normanns Kunstforlag as, 1991), p. 25
7. Tone Wikborg, guide to the Vigeland Park in Oslo (Oslo: Normanns Kunstforlag as, 1991), p. 25
8. Tone Wikborg, guide to the Vigeland Park in Oslo (Oslo: Normanns Kunstforlag as, 1991), p. 25 & 33
9. Tone Wikborg, guide to the Vigeland Park in Oslo (Oslo: Normanns Kunstforlag as, 1991), p. 33