Antwerp: the Belgians' homage to artist Panamarenko

Less known by his civil name, Henri Van Herwegen, Panamarenko departed from the international artisic scene, Saturday the 14th of December 2019. Since, the career of the painter, sculptor, photographer and sketcher, who studied at the Beaux Arts Academy of Antwerp, has been widely praised by the Ministre of Belgian culture, officials, professionals and the general audience.

The homage of the Belgians to a great Belgian artist

A native of Antwerp, belonging to a family of boat repairerers, this free electron was immediately noticed for his work marked by his passion of aeronautics. A keen interest for sciences and Pop Art which appears in most of his works, such as « the Aeromodeller », an airships composed of a wicker cabin linked to a 27 meter-long balloon in PVC.

Conceived in the 70s, Ran's Variable Matrix inspired other artists and several films. © DR

Universum prefigures flying saucers as they were imagined in th middle of the previous century. © DR

Aeronautics at the rank of art

Planes, submersibles, cars, flying carpets, birds: his imaginary vehicles, in artisanal mode, mostly have oddball names, such as « Meganeudon », « Dragon Fly Prop » or « Short Wing Span ». And if you are already missing the sweet folly of Panamarenko, be patient—handsome retrospective exhibitions will soon be taking place in leading museums around the Kingdom of Belgium.

Incredibly realistic for a work of art, « Flying object (rocket) » dates back to 1969. © DR