Ferlov Mancoba
Audio file 59-1
Wonga speaks about an article in Linien on Henry Heerup
Wonga is reading from Linien magazines. Linien was a Danish art association that ran from 1934 to 1938 and to which Sonja Ferlov Mancoba belonged. The association published a journal of the same name
Ernest speaks of art coming from different expressions, visually as well as through music and writing as with Shakespeare; on Wonga's question of the connection to Heerup, Ernest states that Heerup's language of materials delivers a spiritual message
Returning to the article, Wonga reports the author ignores the contribution Surrealism made to Heerup's work
Ernest continues about what he sees is essential in art, which is not the art academy's rules on form; they discuss the academy; [tape stopped and restarted] Wonga recaps the article which seems to argue that art is only for the "aesthetics"
Wonga introduces another article, from early 1930s, writen by Vilhelm Bjerke-Pedersen criticising the Danes for becoming "provincial"; Wonga notes this drives the Danish artists to go to Paris; [tape stopped and restarted] Wonga brings up various articles that provoke him to speak of modern art; at various times, Ernest makes a comment [Wonga speaks in English, Danish and French]
Wonga commenting on an article that acknowledges the struggles of the day speaks about colonialism; he observes that the Cubists, Surrealists and Linien artists were inspired by the art of the colonised but avoided the politics; Ernest says he will put the thoughts in his own way
[tape stopped and restarted] Wonga summarises an article by Jacques-Henri Levesques on Ferdinand Leger in the Cahier d'Art, 1933; in reaction, Wonga thinks there are other concepts of modern art than just one of fragmentation, pointing out that Sonja Ferlov Mancoba explored eternal themes such as the mother and child
Wonga tries to get a response from Ernest but after a pause continues speaking about different conceptions of modernity and modern art, citing Arthur Rimbaud, Sonja Ferlov Mancoba, and Leger; at times, Ernest makes a comment
[tape stopped and restarted] Wonga brings up an article written by Ejler Bille on Hieronymous Bosch, whose work see "beyond reality" bringing one closer to reality; Mancoba responds to Bille's interpretation of Bosch's symbols
Facts
PDFAbout the recordings: Ernest Mancoba's son, Marc also known as Wonga, recorded interviews with his father. The interviews seemed to serve different purposes and are not in chronological order.
Ca.1990-2002 (59-1)
Vilhelm Bjerke-Petersen
Hieronymous Bosch
Alberto Giacometti
Harald Giersing
Grønningen
Henry Heerup
Poul Henningsen
Sven Johansson
Fernand Léger
Jacques-Henri Lévesque
Mr Plesner
Pablo Picasso
Arthur Rimbaud
Axel Salto
William Shakespeare