Asger Jorn in Salzburg

From 23 March, Museum der Moderne presents the comprehensive exhibition ‘Asger Jorn. The Prints’ featuring more than 550 graphic works by the artist. The exhibition, which was created in a collaboration with Museum Jorn in Silkeborg, Denmark, is the first retrospective exhibition about Jorn to be shown in Austria. It is also the first major exhibition outside Denmark to focus exclusively on Jorn’s varied graphic production.

Jorn’s practice in Austria

Asger Jorn (1914–1973) is widely recognized as a leading figure of Europe’s post-war avant-garde. Balancing between figuration and abstraction, his artistic practice introduced a new way of painting that became an inspiration for, among others, ‘The Young Wild Ones’ (Die Neue Wilde) in Germany and Austria.

Jorn is represented in the permanent collection of Museum der Moderne with a small selection of graphic works. With a generous loan of exhibits from Museum Jorn, the Austrian museum now highlights the significant artist in a large retrospective exhibition that features works from the beginning of Jorn’s career to the end.

A small sensation

The exhibition also represents the first showing outside Denmark of new prints based on 52 linoleum sheets recently found in a suitcase in the home of Asger Jorn’s brother. Most of these recently discovered works date to the 1930s and have remained unknown until now. Previously they have only been exhibited at Museum Jorn in Silkeborg.

Catalogue

The New Carlsberg Foundation has supported the exhibition catalogue, which introduces Jorn’s graphic prints to a wider audience. The only previous publication dedicated to this aspect of the artist’s oeuvre is ‘Catalogue Raisonné of Prints’ from 1976, which is intended primarily for art research specialists.

The exhibition catalogue consists of essays by contributors from Museum der Moderne. These articles examine various aspects of Jorn’s practice and artistic personality, just as Museum Jorn contributes with a biographic insight into the artist’s practice with a particular focus on Jorn’s graphic works.

The exhibition is on display at Museum der Moderne from 23 March through 30 June 2019.