The Long Journey, Asger Jorn & Pierre Wemaëre 1959-1960
Art that does something special Asger Jorn was one of Denmark’s most important 20th-century artists. He believed that art can provoke and promote betterment in society, and while he was alive, he started to collect, buy and be gifted art that could do exactly that. Some of that vast collection is today on display at Museum Jorn in Silkeborg, Denmark. By Josefine Older Steffensen | Photos: Museum Jorn
“The story of how the museum came to be is rather wonderful in the sense that the reason we’re here is due to one artist’s belief that art can do something special,” says Jacob Thage, director of Museum Jorn. “Jorn chose to spend his money collecting art and gifting it to his hometown for future generations to enjoy and be inspired by. Art was otherwise something to be found only in the bigger cities, but Jorn wanted to put it where it otherwise wasn’t to be found.” The museum is today home to more than 35,000 pieces of art by over 650 artists. It is the museum in Denmark that lends most art both nationally and internationally. Despite its prominent status on 52 | Issue 126 | July 2019
the art scene, Museum Jorn is a place where young and old, art connoisseurs and newbies, can join together. There is a very welcoming atmosphere, and the wide range of art means that there is something for everyone.
Trying it yourself Just by the entrance to the museum, there is a football pitch with three goals. This may seem a little strange, but in fact it is one of Jorn’s ideas, in which he took the attacking element out of football and instead made it about strategy and cooperation as a direct response to the Cold War. There is always a ball on the pitch and it is used frequently by kids.
“That’s the thing about art: it can suddenly make something that’s very complicated a bit easier to understand. It’s also about being creative and having fun, while sometimes touching on the outside world or our own personal life,” explains Thage. Throughout the museum, there are numerous workshops. These change frequently but often explore the different techniques behind the paintings, such as drip painting or printing. “The workshops are both for adults and kids,” says Thage. “People thoroughly enjoy getting stuck in and understanding more about what it takes to create the pieces of art they’re seeing.”
Mixing and matching The exhibitions at Museum Jorn are based on themes, mixing and matching different styles and ages together. “We tend to mix artworks a bit more than other museums, but there’s always a