Nordic Art Medal Series

This was the first Norway medal to be created for the series. The design was probably inspired by the rapid expansion of speculative North Sea oil drilling at the time prompted by the 1973 oil crisis.

The obverse presents a view out to sea with an advancing line of oil drilling platforms in the background. Ung subtly suggests a sea covered by oil slick that has washed up a dead gull on the shore in the foreground. 

The emotive conservationist theme of the obverse is matched by the mother and child design on the reverse. Ung intended this to represent Mother Norway embracing the child of future prospects. The design is thus something of a landmark in nation gendering as Norway at that time did not have the tradition of female allegorical symbols of countries such as Russia (Mother Russia), England (Brittania), and France (Marianne). Ung's design adds the future child, layering in traditional religious icon elements to the design, implying that the present country needs to take care of and protect the future environment. He's followed the tradition of having the mother's gaze fixed on the child who is in turn looking out at the viewer.

References:   NorA NO-1975

The medal's obverse bears bearded face. Around top, NORGE 1977

The medal's reverse bears a flat fish. 

This is the only medal knwon to have been created by Reidar.  His mother was born in Northern Norway, so thatm ay have influenced his choice of country.  A man who wore an impressive beard himself, he liked bearded and moustached men and even wrote poems to the "Grey bearded men of Russia."  The face on the medal obverse could be a self-portrait of a portrayal of an iconic figure.  It is possible that the fish on the reverse symbolizes something about Reidar, although exactly what remains a mystery. 

The roughly circular medal measures 70mm in diameter and was struck at Kultateollisuus Finland.

References:   NorA NO-1977