The Y-block is one of the buildings in the Norwegian government district that was damaged on July 22, 2011 when Anders Behring Breivik set off a bomb. The building contains several works by Pablo Picasso, the best known being the Pisces, which is an integral part of the facade.

"Loss for Norwegian architectural heritage"

In the letter from MoMA to which the Norwegian newspaper World Gang has been given access, they write that they are concerned about the demolition of the Y-block.

- The demolition will not only be a great loss for Norwegian architectural heritage. Any attempt to relocate Picasso's site-specific works to other locations would also be unfortunate as it would distort the artist's intentions.

Big pause button

The demolition of the Y-block has attracted great commitment. One of those involved in the building's preservation is Tone Selmer-Olsen, chairman of the board of the Oslo Architects Association.

- The fact that the Museum of Modern Art in New York, one of the world's most important art and architecture institutions, has now sent letters to the Prime Minister and several ministers in Norway to ask them to stop the demolition, testifies that the Y-block is not just one of the our country's most unique modernist work - but that it is also part of the world's architectural and art history, she says to the gang.

Now she hopes the government "pushes the big pause button and explores a conservation option".