Culture of Peace: A Peace Frieze by the Fresco Sisters (2024)
What does a culture of peace mean today?
This monumental artwork by Gitte Sætre, spanning 15 meters, is a tribute to the idea of peace as something we nurture in our everyday lives, both locally and globally. Inspired by conversations with civil society representatives, The Peace Frieze delves into themes of deep democracy, welfare, and justice for all living beings—reaching beyond the mere avoidance of conflict to a broader vision of peace.Drawing inspiration from the vitalism movement and Norway’s historic Fresco Brothers—Alf Rolfsen, Axel Revold, Henrik Sørensen, and Per Krohg—the work mirrors their commitment to social democracy and collective well-being yet brings new perspectives through the voices and experiences of the Fresco Sisters and a diverse array of collaborators. These conversations have shaped a frieze that reflects our shared responsibility to choose peace, reminding us that peace is not just an international pursuit, but a commitment rooted in our communities.The artwork begins and ends with the gaze of a woman, symbolizing both vigilance and love extended. The project celebrates the power of civil society in building a culture of peace.In celebration of Oslo's anniversary and the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony, visual artist Gitte Sætre has created a 15-meter-long peace painting titled Peaceculture by the Fresco Sisters. This monumental artwork is a visualization of what a culture of peace looks like, born from conversations with various representatives from civil society. The piece will be displayed at Olav V Square, between Oslo City Hall and the Nobel Peace Center, leading up to the Peace Prize ceremony.
Inspired by the historic frescoes of Oslo City Hall, particularly the works of the Fresco Brothers—Alf Rolfsen, Axel Revold, Henrik Sørensen, and Per Krohg--Peaceculture by the Fresco Sisters echoes their depictions of community and nation-building from the 1930s. However, the 2024 rendition brings new perspectives through the voices and experiences of the Fresco Sisters (painted by Gitte Sætre), incorporating dimensions of life today that address contemporary issues of peace, justice, and collective well-being. The artwork is more than just a painting; it is a dialogue—a catalyst for further public conversations about how we build a culture of peace.
Its location between Oslo City Hall and the Nobel Peace Center ties the work to the ideals of the Peace Prize and to Oslo’s role as a Mayor for Peace city, a human rights hub, and a signatory of the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Peaceculture by the Fresco Sisters is part of a broader initiative responding to the growing despair felt by global civilians in the face of ineffective international systems that have failed to prevent destruction. The work poses the question: What actions are we taking to create peace?
The Peace Frieze was developed in collaboration with organizations such as the Anti-War Initiative, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (IKFF), Norwegian Peace Council, Nobel Peace Center, Oslo Cultural School, and others. Supported by Norway’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Oslo Municipality, with Mesén as advisory producer,
