2023 07 27 P&O IONA - NORWEGIAN FJORDS - HAUGESUND

Haugesund, Norway, is carved into the southwest of the country’s marvelous fjord coastline, between the larger cities of Stavanger and Bergen. Once home to prominent Viking kings, this pretty waterfront city is nestled between rocky mountains, silky fjords, and the brisk North Sea.

Norway’s striking obelisk national monument, Haraldshaugen, is located in Haugesund, erected in 1872 to mark 1,000 years since the country’s unification. Haraldshaugen is believed to be the burial place of the country’s first king, Harald Fairhair.

One of Haugesund’s biggest draws, however, is what lies just outside of the city. You’ll discover tiny islands and islets to the southwest and the vast Boknafjorden with its dozens of smaller offshoots to the northeast. There are waterfalls, mountains, and a rugged coastline to explore.

The rising tide is located in Kvalsvik, slightly north of Haugesund city centre. The Rising Tide was initially on exhibition in the River Thames, London. The four hybrid sculptures in Kvalsvik fuse oil extraction machinery with the equine form, referencing the now retired working horse whilst drawing attention to our ongoing dependency on fossil fuels and the potential apocalyptic outcome of climate change. The sculpture questions; Who is in charge? Where are we heading?