DotW #9 - Asger Jorn

Asger Jorn, 1914-1973

Painter, sculptor, ceramic artist, and author Asger Jorn was born in Århus, Denmark on the 3rd of March in 1914. Århus is the København of Jutland and is Denmark's second largest urban center.

Both of Jorn's parents were teachers and devout Christians. His father - a fundementalist - died in a car crash when Asger was 12. Asger contracted tuberculosis at 15 and would palindromically contract it again at 51. At 16, Jorn enrolled in a teacher training college, despite the fact that he already had an interest in painting. While at Vinthers Seminarium, Asger became more and more interested in philosophy and art. He also joined the Danish Communist Party.

After college Jorn left for Paris to study / further evolve. He began to move away from figurative art towards the more abstract art he would be known for.

During WWII, Jorn participated in the Danish communist resistance movement against German occupation. In a later post we may get on to the occupation of Denmark, but let's just say that the Germans saw Danes as brother-people and treated them - even in occupation - as such.

With Guy Debord he participated in the early artistic years of the Situationist International. Throughout his life, Jorn remained a revolution-driven-philosopher, railing against capitalism and its effects. In 1964 he was awarded a Guggenheim Award. This was - by telegram - his response.

GO TO HELL BASTARD--STOP--REFUSE PRIZE--STOP--NEVER ASKED FOR IT--STOP--AGAINST ALL DECENCY MIX ARTIST AGAINST HIS WILL IN YOUR PUBLICITY--STOP--I WANT PUBLIC CONFIRMATION NOT TO HAVE PARTICIPATED IN YOUR RIDICULOUS GAME.

Jorn's work is varied. Here is my favorite piece from the Lousiana.

Here's a random scattering of other stuff.

And here's Asger at work.