Writings

Boats

This brief report on the experiments with finding our way forward to certain reasonable procedures for constructing the essential coulisse known as a ship is also an illustration of the tracks along which we have been thinking, on the whole, when it comes to the construction of environments. It is clear that thorough and complete reconstructions are not economically feasible and moreover, that they are impossible, especially for “mental” reasons. What we mean with the latter involves everything that is connected with the questions of whether historical reconstructions are possible at all and of when a reconstruction begins to look like an artefact from the National Museum in a culture film rather than a coulisse in a dramatic film. It’s a question of creating pictures. And the only way you can really “prove” something is through the pictures’ capacity to work. But that’s enough of that. As has already been mentioned, economic considerations set a limit on all genuine reconstruction possibilities, anyway.


Accordingly, it’s a matter of finding some economic negotiable channels. And turning this into a quality while consequently avoiding that it becomes a papier-mâché illusionism. Preserving the sense of historical material, as the more or less scientific items of information still play a crucial role, and then working cleanly and constructively with present day materials. How would a Viking build a boat out of fibreglass and polyester – that’s the task. 

Anthology:

Poul Gernes: "Både" [Boats]. In Per Kirkeby & Poul Gernes: Tilløb til Normannerne. Copenhagen 1983, p. 53. Reprinted in D. Luckow (ed.): Poul Gernes. Köln 2010. Translation by Dan A. Marmorstein.

The writing and the wall – conversation with Poul Gernes and Georg Jansen
1993
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Colours contain "abilities"
1990
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Museums are not only for happiness
1988
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There are many kinds of art in the world (Art as a way of life)
1988
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Art that is not applied art is not art – interview with Poul Gernes by Anneli Fuchs and Kirsten Ortved
1986
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Boats
1983
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Isn’t it about time to change course?
1983
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About my painting
1980
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Which colour is best in a room? Poul Gernes in conversation with Jane Pedersen
1971
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A collective environment where artists accelerated each other. Poul Gernes in conversation with Jane Pedersen
1971
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Sketch for a manifesto September 8th 1971
1971
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Conversation about dress between Poul Gernes and Jane Pedersen
1971
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Pouls paper happening
1968
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31 pictures in 2 variations
1968
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The Experiment City – a meta-project
1967
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Game systems or simply systems
1967
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Selfportrait in Hvedekorn
1966
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Brother, I am searching – Jens Jørgen Thorsen’s interview with Poul Gernes
1962
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