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Since 2016, Glory Glory with Crutches, a sculpture by British artist Laura Ford, has stood in a military setting near Akershus Fortress in Oslo. The bronze work shows a female soldier who’s returned from war, now missing a leg. She uses crutches to stabilize herself while her arms are weighed down with sacks that contain all her possessions, thus displaying her burdens of life.
Ford often focuses on themes of vulnerability and endurance. In this piece, she brings out the real, personal struggles tied to war, showing how these challenges reach beyond the battlefield and touch wider social and political issues. The woman’s bandaged face represents “every one of us” up against hardship, while her injuries remind us of war’s lasting impact on soldiers and civilians alike.
In a military site like this, where strength and security dominate, Glory Glory with Crutches introduces an unsettling note of frailty. This lone and wounded figure stands in sharp contrast to the solid medieval fortress behind her—a structure that has long symbolized Norway’s power and resilience.