Design: Bente Nordheim
The Rat-Maiden is a 7-meter-tall sculpture located at Bakkestranda in Skien, a popular recreational area.
The sculpture, inspired by Henrik Ibsen's play "Little Eyolf," is adorned with a unique pattern of porcelain tiles representing the eyes of the rats in the play. These tiles, painted by over 2,000 schoolchildren, were produced at Porsgrund Porcelain Factory and are integrated into the sculpture's structure in an artistic and symbolic way.
Each tile functions as an individual work of art and contributes to the overall expression. The eyes on the sculpture symbolize both the physical rats and the more abstract questions of what gnaws between people – a central theme in Ibsen's work. In addition to its artistic dimension, the sculpture also functions as playground equipment, with a popular slide that children love to play on.