Oslo Geological City Walk
Oslo, 2025
Gneiss, examples from Rådhuset, Oslo. Photo Credit: Paul Catanese
The project Spiritual GPS also developed into the Oslo Geological City Walk; I organised in collaboration with geologist Gard Lilledal Andersen. In the same vein, walking in Avebury and walks among the city’s building stones echo one another, both arise from a desire to reconnect with our physical surroundings. Walking here is seen as a sensorial practice, a way of listening to hidden geological and historical ayers in our everyday environment.
The public were invited to consider the geology of their own natural surroundings, despite the urbanity of the city. Through a guided tour by geologist Gard Lilledal Andersen, we explored the geology of various Norwegian building stones, Drammen Granite, Tønsbergite, and Grefsen Syenite, considering their geological histories and processes. What has been their jounery from despoition to quarry to where we see them today? Can we see evidence of their eco-systems, processes or fossils and what stories do they tell?
Free public event I organised in collaboration with geologist Gard Lilledal Andersen, in conjection with my exhibition Spiritual GPS, Omnibus Galleri
Participants interacting with Gregsen Syenite at Løvebakken and Larvikite and Drammen Granite at Youngstorget Fountain, Oslo
Fauske marble (fauskemarmor) photo credit: Paul Catanese
Fossils in the building materials at Youngstorget
Sandstone building materials
Gneiss from City Hall, Oslo
Walking through the city -- Gard explaining the three different types of rock we can idenitify in the building stones: metamorphic, sedimentary and igneous through the traces of processes
