Nils Aas
Nils Aas (1933-2004) was a Norwegian sculptor and draughtsman from Inderøy. His work includes public monuments, portraits and small sculptures. He grew up in a family of cabinetmakers.
Craft, drawing and sculpture
Aas studied at the Norwegian National College of Art and Design in 1954-1958, received further tuition from Nils Flakstad, then studied under Per Palle Storm at the National Academy of Fine Arts in 1959-1962. Working with Arnold Haukeland brought experience of welding and abstract sculpture. See Nils Aas Kunstverksted's biography.
Calligraphy and typography sharpened his interest in proportion, form and legibility. Newspaper illustration trained him in concise characterisation. His sculpture ranges from modelled portraits to abstracted constructions. Norsk kunstnerleksikon also highlights experiments with paper, wooden blocks and bent wire, where an outline can suggest volume without filling it.
From monument to small narrative
The Haakon VII monument was unveiled in Oslo in 1972 after Aas won the competition in 1967. The museum's Liv og virke exhibition traces its development. Also there is Bauta, erected in 1996 and built from willow, birch and alder firewood.
Konsul Anders Sveaas, unveiled at Kistefos in 2001, represents another format. The museum's record documents a bronze bust on a granite column. The portrait represents a strand of Aas' work centred on a particular person and place.
12 fortellinger comprises twelve birch carvings, one for each month. The museum's presentation describes everyday stories: a discarded Christmas tree, a boy fishing and a person confronting an autumn storm. The calendar provides a common structure for these small scenes.
Aas also designed objects encountered in everyday life. The Mint of Norway identifies him as designer of the 20-krone coin launched in 1994 and the 10-krone coin launched in 1995. Their motifs are a ship's prow and a section of stave-church roofing respectively.
Identity and condition of an individual work
Establish material and execution before attributing a work to Aas. A drawing, a hand-carved wooden sculpture, a model and a cast edition are different object types requiring different documentation. In wood, describe cracks, loose parts and later glued repairs. For bronze, investigate casting date, known foundry and any numbering. A photographic image of a known sculpture reproduces that work. Assess signature, dimensions, labels and ownership history together, without transferring details from a similar museum example.
Explore further
Read more about artist signatures, provenance and ownership history, Arnold Haukeland, Per Palle Storm.
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Contact OBA about selling and assessment (Norwegian page).
