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Ferlov Mancoba

Audio file 46-1

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World War II, Europearn modern art

Wonga summarises the time when Ernest and Sonja Ferlov Mancoba arrived in Denmark and the change in artistic dialogue pre- and post-war; Wonga expands that other artists' lives were disrupted, mentioning Picasso, and the Dada artists who came together despite World War I

World War II, Danish avant-garde

Wonga continues that the Danish avant-garde had limited access to the outside world during World War II, but after the war, Asger Jorn travelled around Europe to (re)build contacts; Wonga theorises on the rebellions of youth during the two world wars, comparing the Dada artists to the youth during World War II

colonialism

Ernest recalls observing that when he left for Europe, he perceived a "restlessness" particularly in the colonies and that Europe had economic and social problems due to inequality within the countries

World War II, Europearn modern art, Danish avant-garde

[tape stopped to allow Ernest to collect his thoughts] Wonga returns to Dada and Ernest questions him; Wonga elaborates, referencing Jean Juarès assassination leaving the Dada artists as the only resistance; Wonga returns to the difference in World War II, in which the young intellectuals had been defeated in Spain; Wonga observes that the Danes were able to maintain their fundamental heritage

post-war art, Danish avant-garde

[tape stopped and restarted] Ernest argues that the artists understood the cause of the world crisis was not just economical but spiritual; Ernest says that he and Sonja Ferlov Mancoba wanted to encourage understanding on spiritual as well as ecoomic level

Danish avant-garde, Danish art associations

Wonga asks for Ernest's expectations when they arrived in Denmark but answers the questions himself; Wonga returns to Denmark being able to subsist despite the war; Wonga recaps Høst as thread from Linien continuing to CoBrA which allowed a "rallying point" for artists across post-war Europe; Ernest agrees

artist models, artist friends

[they are joined by Clarisse Penso, she and Wonga speak in French] Wonga wants to know about her first meeting Sonja. Clarisse explains that it was Rita Gueyfier who told her of Sonja [mentions Vally and Meret Oppenheimer]. That Sonja was not part of the group of girls but on occasion joined them for a swim at the Royal Baths in Paris

Wonga speaks of Sonja attending a Louis Armstrong concert in Denmark; Wonga recalls Sonja saying Clarisse ate rose petals, and Clarisse speaks of her wild youth

Ernest says that it is through Clarisse that they met Antonin Artaud; Clarisse explains she met him just before the war; they speak of Pierre Drieu La Rochelle, Arthur Adamov and his wife, Eugène Ionesco, Samuel Beckett]

artist models, artist friends

Wonga asks when Clarisse became an artist's model; Clarisse replies before the war, beginning in Montparnasse, that she worked for Andre Derain and that it was Rita who suggested it to her

artist friends

Wonga asks how she and Sonja interacted and Clarisse replies they met in the evening at Le Dôme; Wonga asks about seeing Giacometti and Clarisse says Rita knew him; They speak about Kiki de Montparnasse, Thérèse Treize de Caro, and Per Krohg

[recording stopped]

[tape ends, continues 46-2]

Facts

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Audio clip
47:47
In the first part, Wonga and Ernest speak of the Danish avant-garde during and after World War II; in the second part, they are joined by Clarisse Penso who speak of her past and friendship with Sonja Ferlov; continues 46-2

About 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 (46-1)

The audio files are undated but is likely to have been recorded some time between 1990 and 2002
Time index and commentary prepared by W. Sze
Paris
  • Kattinge, Denmark
Estate of Ferlov Mancoba