Timeline

1925

Poul Gerner Nielsen is born on March 19 in Frederiksberg, the son of shoe manufacturer Viggo Gerner Nielsen and his wife Ellen. The family lives in a villa on Bogholder Allé in Vanløse. While Poul is a child, the family changes their surname to Gernes.

1940s

During these years, Poul Gernes learns, practices, and engages primarily in drawing, portrait, and landscape painting, inspired by the French Fauvist painter Henri Matisse.

1941

Attends Kunsthåndværkerskolen (School of arts and crafts) in Copenhagen as a student of Franka Rasmussen. Does not complete the education.
 

1943

Starts as a lithography apprentice at the stone printing/lithographic company Andreasen & Lachmann in Copenhagen.

Attends evening classes at Frederiksberg Technical School, where he meets Aase Seidler Jensen, who is training as a textile printer.
 

1946

Poul Gernes and Aase Seidler Jensen travel together to Belgium, France, and Switzerland.
 

1948

On March 23, Poul Gernes passes his journeyman’s exam as a lithographic draftsman with the grade Ros (commendation).

Marries textile printer Aase Seidler Jensen (1927–2018) on October 27. The couple lives in an apartment on Ravnsborggade.
 

1949

Their son, Kasper Gernes, is born on April 6.

Applies Herlev Municipality for permission to set up a used tool shed on a building plot on Våbenstedvej in Herlev, with the intention of building a house.

Unofficial debut at Den Ny Foraarsudstilling at Illums Bolighus from May 3-22.

Official debut the same year at Kunstnernes Efterårsudstilling at Charlottenborg with three non-figurative paintings.
 

1950s

Poul Gernes mainly engages in applied arts, creating prototypes for wallpaper patterns, furniture, and lamps, and exhibits only a few times. He is briefly employed at the design studio of Gunnar Aagaard Andersen (1919–1982) and makes a living as an art teacher at evening schools.

Aase Seidler Gernes develops her craft in painting and printing colorful, geometric patterns on clothing, tablecloths, and wall tapestries. In the 1950s and 60s, she supplements her income as a teacher at an evening school and exhibits several times both nationally and internationally, including at Den Permanente, Forårsudstillingen at Charlottenborg, and Åbo Konstmuseum in Finland.
 

1950

Son Kasper Gernes dies from a poisoning accident on June 20.
 

1951

Son Jesper Gernes is born on August 25.
 

1953

The family settles in a self-built house on Våbenstedvej in Herlev.
 

1954

Daughter Anne-Sofie Gernes is born on February 13.
 

1956

Poul Gernes submits a competition proposal for a monument at the Risø Atomic Research Station, but does not win the competition.
 

1957

Is an extra in the film The Vikings (1958), starring Kirk Douglas and directed by Richard Fleischer. Filming takes place in Northern Norway.

1960s

The decade is characterized by artistic and pedagogical experiments. Poul Gernes possesses an almost explosive creative energy, and major iconic works are produced.

1960

Holds his first solo exhibition at Galerie Hybler in Copenhagen, featuring ink drawings.

Expands the Herlev residence with a studio.

1961

Exhibits drawings and paintings at Galerie København.

Is one of the initiators of Sommerudstillingen at Den Frie Exhibition Building.

Receives a grant from the Thorvaldsen-Eckersberg Foundation.

In October, co-founds The Experimental Art School (Eks-skolen) in Copenhagen with art historian Troels Andersen (1940–2021). The core of Eks-skolen also includes Peter Louis-Jensen (1941–1999), John Davidsen (1944–2007), Per Kirkeby (1938–2018), Bjørn Nørgaard (b. 1947), Bodil Marie Nielsen (b. 1942), among others. The school is conceived as an alternative to the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, emphasizing artistic collaboration and the social function of art.

Initially located on the fifth floor at Ravnsborggade 2, Eks-skolen later moves to Pilestræde 40 in 1962, Store Kongensgade 101 in 1966, and Studiestræde 18 in 1972, also occasionally operating in Daner Galleriet, which is run by bank clerk and art collector John Hunov (1936-2017). 

1962

Teaches at Eks-skolen, focusing on material exercises. Creates works using unconventional materials such as toilet seats, discarded clothing, bed bases, and wire, while also experimenting with new ways of making prints.

Eks-skolen holds its first collective exhibition at Kældergalleriet in Admiralgade 20.

Participates in and edits the catalogue for Sommerudstillingen.

Son Konrad Gernes is born on December 16.
 

1963

Exhibits collaborative works with Per Kirkeby, John Davidsen, and Egon Fischer (1935–2016) at Galerie Gammel Strand. Creates the work Demokratiseringen with Peter Louis-Jensen.

Eks-skolen produces collective films.

1964

Poul and Aase Gernes sell their house in Herlev and embark on a road trip with their children through Europe to North Africa in a Volkswagen van. The plan to drive around the Mediterranean is cut short due to the heat, leading the family to return via Eastern Europe with an extended stay in Prague.

1965

Settles on a small farmstead in Ekeröd, Sweden.

Receives his first working grant from the Danish Arts Foundation.

Creates several systematic painting series featuring colorful stripes, circles, and targets on masonite boards.

Participates in Ung Dansk Kunsts Flyvemaskineudstilling (Aeroplane exhibition) with a large-scale assemblage of clothing, photographs, and portraits.

Eks-skolen members stage the collective performance Johan Th. Lundbye eller tiden, stedet og rummet (Johan Th. Lundbye or time, place and space) at Fiolteatret in Copenhagen.

Daughter Ulrikka Gernes is born on June 6.

1966

Creates a monumental stripe painting for the staircase landing at Ungdomsbiennalen at Charlottenborg.

Exhibits the Formalfabet (Alphabet of shapes) at Kunstnernes Efterårsudstilling at Den Frie Exhibition Building.

Eks-skolen hosts the happening festival Tilstande (State of Affairs) in Copenhagen, featuring German artist Joseph Beuys (1921–1986). Gernes’ striped wallpaper serves as the backdrop for Beuys’ Eurasia performance.

Publishes art critiques in Hvedekorn and contributes the following years essays to newspapers and journals.

1967

Exhibits works such as Lotteristriber and Stofkugle at Ung Dansk Kunsts Jubilæumsudstilling at Louisiana.

Creates the 7-meter-tall sculpture Tower from gray-painted cardboard boxes for Kunstnernes Efterårsudstilling at Den Frie Exhibition Building.

Submits the project Pyramid for a competition to decorate Israels Plads in Copenhagen, organized by the Danish Arts Foundation, but does not win.

Stages Paper happening and Circle happening at various locations, including Toftevang School in Birkerød.

Eks-skolen launches the journal ta’, published from 1967 to 1968, with cover designs by Poul Gernes. The journal serves as a manifesto for the interdisciplinary group surrounding Eks-skolen and reflects their artistic vision.

1968

Exhibits the Dreamship at Charlottenborg’s Forårsudstilling and participates in the group exhibition Anonymiteter at Lunds Konsthall in Sweden.

Wins a closed competition for the decoration of the foyer at Herlev Hospital. The collaboration with the architects evolves into Poul Gernes creating a complete color scheme for the entire hospital, a project that continues until 1976.

1969

Creates a public bath for Charlottenborg’s 200th-anniversary exhibition, Festival 200.

Eks-skolen dissolves as a physical community and workspace when their lease at Store Kongensgade 101 ends.

1970s

During this decade, Poul Gernes completes the monumental decoration and color scheme of Herlev Hospital, makes films, experiments with extensive boat-building, and explores collective lifestyles.

Aase Seidler Gernes ceases her independent work as a textile artist to collaborate with him on the enormous Herlev Hospital project. In the following years, she becomes his primary partner in the site-specific artistic decorations, which play a central role in his later work.

1970

Participates in Tabernakel, an exhibition at Louisiana alongside Bjørn Nørgaard, Per Kirkeby, Peter Louis-Jensen, and international artists, amongst others Joseph Beuys. Poul Gernes’ contribution includes advertising collages and commercial products such as a soft-serve ice cream machine, a bowling alley (both for public use), a Bang & Olufsen sound system, sailing equipment from Elvstrøm, and the latest Citroën models (on display in the museum’s park). However, it is Bjørn Nørgaard’s horse slaughtering happening that causes the greatest controversy, leading to a dispute between the museum’s leadership and the four Danish artists, who withdraw from the exhibition in protest shortly after its opening.

Poul and Aase Gernes form a collective with Knud and Birgit Pontoppidan and several others, moving into a villa in Humlebæk.

Decorates a test module at Gentofte Hospital, which is used to evaluate the effects of the polychrome environment planned for Herlev Hospital. The experiment, involving both patients and staff, garners attention from the press and researchers.

1971

The exhibition Der er dejligt i Danmark (It’s Lovely in Denmark) is shown at Jysk Kunstgalerie in Copenhagen and followed by an interview book of the same title by art librarian Jane Pedersen (1930–?).

The exhibition Poul Gernes' opgør med dansk kunst (Poul Gernes’ rebellion against Danish art), featuring the installation of Tintin comics, is shown at Gentofte Municipality’s Art Library, Tranegården. At the same time, Poul Gernes organizes exhibitions of his paintings at various workplaces.

1972

Designs covers for the MagnaPrint book series, which republishes literature in a reader-friendly typeface for visually impaired people. Poul Gernes continues working on the MagnaPrint series for the rest of his life, and after his passing, Aase Gernes takes over the color scheme for the books’ covers, but in his name.

Exhibits Proposal for EEC Flags at Danergalleriet.

Along with Knud and Birgit Pontoppidan, Poul and Aase Gernes establish the firm Hjælp (Help), a socially responsible collective that functions as a rehabilitation center for drug addicts. The collective restores and decorates summer camp schools, including Havreholm.

1973

Creates a colorful installation of Flags for architect Jørgen Selchau’s 50th birthday. The architectural firm Selchau, Brüel, and Bornebusch is responsible for the design and construction of Herlev Hospital. 

1974

Begins filming The Normans, a collaboration with painter Per Kirkeby, focusing on Denmark’s Viking Age. The artists collaborate on both script and direction. Poul Gernes builds all the Viking ships and boats for the film, which premieres two years later.

1975

Designs the color scheme for the offices of the accounting firm Døssing & Søn in Hillerød.

1976

The artist group Arme & Ben (Arms & Legs) is formed. Members include Lene Adler Petersen (b. 1944), Erik Hagens (b. 1944), Bjørn Nørgaard, Per Kirkeby, Ursula Reuter Christiansen (b. 1943), Richard Winther (1926–2007), and composer Henning Christiansen (1932–2008). The artists seek to continue the collective working methods of Eks-skolen.

The exhibition Arme & Beine – 5 dänische Künstler is shown at Kunstmuseum Luzern in Switzerland, where Poul Gernes’ contributions include series of paintings based on variations of the Swiss and Danish flags, and large-scale cut-paper collages produced in situ.

On October 14, the new Herlev Hospital is inaugurated. Even today, it remains Denmark’s largest site-specific artwork. This project marks the beginning of over 150 major and minor decoration commissions throughout Denmark in factories, public and private buildings, schools, and prisons.

1977

Poul Gernes receives the C. V. Eckersberg Medal.

Arme & Ben’s exhibition Papir is displayed at Aarhus Kunstbygning, featuring Poul Gernes’ monumental paper flower installation.

Decorates Flügger’s paint factory in Kolding and Carlsberg Breweries’ bottling hall in Copenhagen.

1978

Travels to Egypt to film a movie but never completes it. In 1997, filmmaker Steen Møller Rasmussen (b. 1953) edits the footage into the silent film Kairo.

Exhibits with Arme & Ben at Willumsen’s Museum in Frederikssund, presenting works like Majstangen (Maypole) and Lakridskonfekt (Licorice Allsorts).

1979

Receives a three-year working grant from the Danish Arts Foundation.

Experiments with plaster in many dimensions, from casts of milk cartons and cardboard boxes to meringues and an oversized plaster cream pie, co-created with Bjørn Nørgaard, for the exhibition Sculpture in the Fairy Tale Garden in Odense.

The retrospective exhibition, Poul Gernes at Sophienholm, is curated by the artist himself. He also assembled the catalogue consisting almost solely of a chronological photographic documentation of his works. 

Poul Gernes is the Rockwool Artist of the Year.

1980s

Poul Gernes gradually moves away from a more traditional production of artworks for exhibition and sale, focusing instead on site-specific murals and decorations. He is appointed professor, and faces severe health challenges.

1980

Begins working with marble sculptures in Pietrasanta, Italy, creating works such as the Sugar cone, Chess pieces, Large pillow sculpture, Small pillow sculpture, Big Rosa, and Little Rosa.

Starts the decoration of auditoriums and corridors at the Panum Institute at Copenhagen University.

1981

The artist group Arme & Ben leads the decoration of Hedegård School in Ballerup, completed by students and teachers during an art week under the heading ”1000 Arms and Legs”.

1982

Decorates Borgen Publishers.

As part of the Art in City project, Poul Gernes’ Chess pieces are installed at Kultorvet in central Copenhagen.

1983

Poul and Aase Gernes begin decorating Vesthimmerland Upper Secondary School in Aars.

Total decoration of Rebæk Søpark Student Housing.

1984

Participates in two international group exhibitions: Triennale at the Museum of Modern Art in Toyama, Japan, and The Danes at Liljevalchs, Sweden.

The final Arme & Ben exhibition, Flowers for Vejle, is held at Vejle Kunstmuseum, featuring artistic proposals for the decoration of Vejle’s buildings, squares, and parks. Poul Gernes’ catalogue contribution includes ideas later realized, such as the fountain at Troldehøj Housing Association and floral tiles outside Vejle Library and in Himmerlandsgade in Aars.

After years of severe illness, Poul Gernes undergoes a kidney transplant.

1985

Solo exhibition Fleurs at Maison du Danemark in Paris.
Appointed professor at the School of Wall and Space at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. Due to low student enrollment, he receives special permission to recruit students via ads in newspaper. His teaching method is characterized by students contributing to decoration projects under his direction.

1986

Poul and Aase Gernes decorate Horsens Town Hall, including a total colour scheme of the entrance hall, a giant metal sculpture in the council chamber, floral paintings in the wedding hall, and stencil decorations in 2.5 km of hallways.

1987

Designs a collection of color variations for Arne Jacobsen’s classic Series 7 chair for the furniture company Fritz Hansen. The chairs are marketed and sold worldwide.

Writes a series of polemical articles on the role of visual art in society, amongst others published in dailies Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten and Kristeligt Dagblad.

Undergoes heart surgery and receives a new heart valve.

Poul and Aase Gernes travel to Crete and Turkey.

1988

Represents Denmark at the Venice Biennale.

Decorates the Psychiatric Department at Frederiksberg Hospital as a student project at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts.

Poul and Aase Gernes travel to Israel.

1989

Decorates the Palads Cinema in Copenhagen.

Poul and Aase Gernes travel to New York, Mexico, and Cyprus.

1990s

Poul Gernes recovers his health and continues working energetically in what turns out to be his final years.

1991

His decoration of Ordrup Upper Secondary School, completed by students, teachers, and parents, changes the fate of a school threatened with closure and becomes part of its identity.

1992

Poul and Aase Gernes continue the extensive decoration of Paradisbakke School, including the entrance hall and music room, alongside other projects on Bornholm, such as  Restaurant Tre Søstre, a transformer station, and the radar station.

1993

Submits an architectural proposal for the expansion of Statens Museums for Kunst (National Gallery of Denmark) but does not win the competition.

Poul and Aase Gernes travel to Réunion.

1994

Decorates the museum café at the North Jutland Art Museum.

Submits a dandelion model in cardboard for a monumental sculpture at Grenå Harbor but does not receive the commission.

Poul and Aase Gernes travel to Thailand and Hong Kong.

1995

Poul Gernes 70th birthday exhibition is held at Kunstcentrum in Copenhagen on March 19.

Granddaughter Klara Karoline Gernes (1976–1995) loses her life from severe head injuries caused by a horse riding accident in July.

Poul and Aase Gernes travel to Italy in the fall to complete the marble sculptures Little Rosa and Big Rosa.

1996

Poul Gernes passes away on March 22 in the morning, aged 71, from a brain hemorrhage at his home in Sweden, shortly after returning from Pietrasanta.

He is buried at Tåssjö Cemetery in Munka-Ljungby, Sweden.

In April, the exhibition Series by Poul Gernes opens at Clausholm Castle, planned by the artist himself. Big Rosa and Little Rosa are displayed for the first time. The exhibition is completed by Aase Seidler Gernes and Ulrikka Gernes, who in the following years finalize a number of unfinished decoration projects.

POSTHUMOUS RECOGNITION

1999

Galerie Mikael Andersen in Copenhagen presents the exhibition Poul Gernes – Works from 1966–1968.

2000

Following Poul Gernes’ wishes, Aase Seidler Gernes establishes Klara Karolines Fond Stiftet af Aase & Poul Gernes. Their youngest daughter, poet Ulrikka S. Gernes, chairs the foundation.

2001

The solo exhibition Invitation to a Glass of Milk, curated by artist Erik Steffensen (b. 1961), is shown at the North Jutland Art Museum in Aalborg and later that year at Kunstforeningen on Gammel Strand.

The exhibition Bruder Poul sticht in See at Kunstverein Hamburg is Cosima von Bonin’s (b. 1962) homage to Poul Gernes.

2002

The retrospective exhibition Poul Gernes - Arbeiten aus den Jahren 1960 bis 1996 at Kunstverein Braunschweig is curated by Cosima von Bonin.

2005

Solo exhibition at Galerie Ben Kaufmann in Berlin.

2007

A major selection of Poul Gernes’ works, including a series of stripe paintings from 1965, is presented at documenta 12 in Kassel, Germany.

Galerie Ben Kaufmann in Berlin exhibits Behind, a selection of Poul Gernes’ butt photographs from the 1960s and black-and-white ornament paintings from the 1980s.

2009

Galleri Bo Bjerggaard in Copenhagen presents the solo exhibition Poul Gernes, curated by Per Kirkeby.

2010

Museum Jorn in Silkeborg presents the group exhibition Ex-Skolen, Experimental Art School 1961–1969, curated by Troels Andersen.

The retrospective exhibition Gernes Retrospective is shown at Deichtorhallen in Hamburg, then in Lunds Konsthall and Malmö Konsthall in Sweden the following year.

2011

The exhibition Bolt Out of the Blue presents works by Poul Gernes and Icelandic artist Birgir Andrésson (1955–2007) at Sean Kelly Gallery, New York.

Galleri Bo Bjerggaard showcases a large stripe series at the Art Basel fair.

The exhibition TASTE – the good, the bad and the really expensive at Staatchliche Kunsthalle in Baden-Baden, Germany, features a selection of plaster cream pies and Panum paintings.

2013

The exhibition Anti-Academy at John Hansard Gallery in Southampton, England, highlights, among other things, collective working methods and Poul Gernes’ role in the Eks-school.

2015

Galleri Bo Bjerggaard presents the exhibition Flowers for Poul in celebration of Poul Gernes’ 90th birthday, where a number of international artists pay tribute to him with one artwork each.

2016

Louisiana hosts the solo exhibition Poul Gernes: I cannot do it alone – want to join in?

A scale model of the Pyramid (1967) is erected in the museum’s sculpture park.

Gavin Brown's Enterprise in New York exhibits large dot paintings by Poul Gernes at Unclebrother (All Summer in a Day). 

Finn Thybo Andersen publishes Poul Gernes Decoration Projects 1970–2006, documenting 145 site-specific works.

2017

A scale model of Poul Gernes' Pyramid (1967) is permanently erected in the sculpture park at Wanås Castle in Sweden.

2018

Stripe series with ochre as a recurring colour is shown at the exhibition Nordic Impressions, first at the National Nordic Museum in Seattle, then in the Philips Collection in Washington D.C. and after that at Scandinavia House in New York City. The Phillips Collection acquires the work for their permanent collection.
Aase Seidler Gernes dies, aged 91, on August 8 in the evening at the Rosenborgcentret in Copenhagen, surrounded by family and friends. She is buried at Tåssjö Cemetery in Munka-Ljungby, Sweden, next to Poul Gernes.

2019

Galleri Nicolai Wallner opens the year with the Poul Gernes exhibition Paintings, Sculptures, Flags, etc.

2024

The publishing house Marrow Press releases PALADS, documenting Poul Gernes’ iconic—and controversial—Copenhagen decoration.

Kunstverein Jesteburg in Germany exhibits works by Poul Gernes and Cosima von Bonin in the exhibition One, two, three, our house! curated by Cosima von Bonin.

2025

EMMA Espoo Museum of Modern Art in Finland acquires Stripe series with red and blue as recurring colours from 1966. The work series is unveiled by the Danish royal couple and the President of Finland on March 5th.