handicraft and design

Stage curtain for Morsø Theatre

Description

painted stage curtain

Date

1982

Materials and Technique

woollen cloth | acrylic paint | applique

Dimensions

600 (h) x 2100 (w) cm

Owner

Morsø Municipality

IDname

PG-D-38-0

Exhibitions

Poul Gernes. Retrospektive, Deichtorhallen, 2010

Anthology

Finn Thybo Andersen on Morsø Theatre

The building was designed by the architects Friis and Moltke, with whom Poul Gernes collaborated even before it was built. The theatre hall in Nykøbing Mors is a major work in Poul Gernes' production. It is constructed as an amphitheatrer, with dark violet chairs that frame the stage.

The stage curtain unfolds what were – in the early 1980's – relatively new flower motifs, inspired by Swedish folk art. The large curtain was sewn and painted by the Gernes family in their home in Ekeröd. It is unfathomable that they were to paint and sew this 6 x 21 metre curtain in the small rooms. It was painted, with the aid of stencils, on a felt-like woolen cloth that had been sewn together from lengths that were 1.20 metres wide.

One particularly beautiful detail is the velvet blue border, which was done on a sewing machine. Simply being able to wield this large artwork must have required a great deal of planning. Here, we sense the talent and presence of textile artist Aase Seidler Gernes. This is sterling handiwork, and very, very beautiful. The stage curtain was included in the large exhibition Poul Gernes. Retrospektive in 2010 at Deichtorhallen in Hamburg. There we had the chance to see the curtain in its full extension. But its rightful place is obviously in the theatre in Mors, where space, stage and curtain come together to make whole.

Finn Thybo Andersen: Poul Gernes Decoration Projects. London 2018, p. 54. Excerpt.

Stage curtain for Morsø Theatre

Photo: Finn Thybo Andersen

Stage curtain for Morsø Theatre

Photo: Finn Thybo Andersen

Stage curtain for Morsø Theatre

Photo: Finn Thybo Andersen

Stage curtain for Morsø Theatre

Photo: Finn Thybo Andersen