Panamarenko
Encyclopedia
Panamarenko is a prominent assemblagist
in Belgian
sculpture
. Famous for his work with airplanes as theme; none of which are able nor constructed to actually leave the ground.
s and human powered flight which is also reflected in his name, which supposedly is an acronym for "Pan American Airlines and Company". Starting in 1970, he developed his first models of imaginary vehicles, planes, balloon
s or helicopter
s, in original and surprising appearances. Many of his sculptures are modern variants of Icarus
. The question of whether his creations can actually fly is part of its mystery and appeal.
The artists he admired were, amongst others: Joseph Beuys
, Marcel Broodthaers
, Bruce Nauman
and Pablo Picasso
In 2003 Panamarenko married the 34 year younger Eveline Hoorens. In 2005, at the opening of a big overview exhibition of his work in Brussels
, Panamarenko announced his retirement as an artist and started to promote his own coffee brand PanamaJumbo.
On 24 April 2009, VLM Airlines
based in Antwerp, Belgium
named one of their Fokker 50 aircraft in his honour. http://www.flyvlm.com/emc.asp?pageId=1584
While retired, Panamarenko created the Waving Crabs, a series of fountains sprayed by crab figures on three stainless steel half bowl shaped islands situated in the Zegemeer, a large pond at Knokke-Heist
. He inaugurated it on 7 October 2011 stating the idea dated from 1975. http://www.deredactie.be/permalink/1.1126779
Assemblage (art)
Assemblage is an artistic process. In the visual arts, it consists of making three-dimensional or two-dimensional artistic compositions by putting together found objects...
in Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
sculpture
Sculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
. Famous for his work with airplanes as theme; none of which are able nor constructed to actually leave the ground.
Life and work
Panamarenko studied at the academy of Antwerp. Before 1968, his art was inspired by Pop-art, but soon found an interest in planeFixed-wing aircraft
A fixed-wing aircraft is an aircraft capable of flight using wings that generate lift due to the vehicle's forward airspeed. Fixed-wing aircraft are distinct from rotary-wing aircraft in which wings rotate about a fixed mast and ornithopters in which lift is generated by flapping wings.A powered...
s and human powered flight which is also reflected in his name, which supposedly is an acronym for "Pan American Airlines and Company". Starting in 1970, he developed his first models of imaginary vehicles, planes, balloon
Balloon
A balloon is an inflatable flexible bag filled with a gas, such as helium, hydrogen, nitrous oxide, oxygen, or air. Modern balloons can be made from materials such as rubber, latex, polychloroprene, or a nylon fabric, while some early balloons were made of dried animal bladders, such as the pig...
s or helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
s, in original and surprising appearances. Many of his sculptures are modern variants of Icarus
Icarus (mythology)
In Greek mythology, Icarus is the son of the master craftsman Daedalus. The main story told about Icarus is his attempt to escape from Crete by means of wings that his father constructed from feathers and wax...
. The question of whether his creations can actually fly is part of its mystery and appeal.
The artists he admired were, amongst others: Joseph Beuys
Joseph Beuys
Joseph Beuys was a German performance artist, sculptor, installation artist, graphic artist, art theorist and pedagogue of art.His extensive work is grounded in concepts of humanism, social philosophy and anthroposophy; it culminates in his "extended definition of art" and the idea of social...
, Marcel Broodthaers
Marcel Broodthaers
Marcel Broodthaers was a Belgian poet, filmmaker and artist with a highly literate and often witty approach to creating art works....
, Bruce Nauman
Bruce Nauman
Bruce Nauman is a contemporary American artist. His practice spans a broad range of media including sculpture, photography, neon, video, drawing, printmaking, and performance. Nauman lives in Galisteo, New Mexico....
and Pablo Picasso
Pablo Picasso
Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santísima Trinidad Ruiz y Picasso known as Pablo Ruiz Picasso was a Spanish expatriate painter, sculptor, printmaker, ceramicist, and stage designer, one of the greatest and most influential artists of the...
In 2003 Panamarenko married the 34 year younger Eveline Hoorens. In 2005, at the opening of a big overview exhibition of his work in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, Panamarenko announced his retirement as an artist and started to promote his own coffee brand PanamaJumbo.
On 24 April 2009, VLM Airlines
VLM Airlines
VLM Airlines is a Belgian airline whose head office is in Airport Building B50 at Antwerp International Airport in Deurne, Antwerp...
based in Antwerp, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
named one of their Fokker 50 aircraft in his honour. http://www.flyvlm.com/emc.asp?pageId=1584
While retired, Panamarenko created the Waving Crabs, a series of fountains sprayed by crab figures on three stainless steel half bowl shaped islands situated in the Zegemeer, a large pond at Knokke-Heist
Knokke-Heist
Knokke-Heist is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the towns of Heist-aan-Zee, Knokke, Duinbergen, Ramskapelle and Westkapelle. On January 1, 2006 Knokke-Heist had a total population of 34,063. The total area is 56.44 km² which gives a...
. He inaugurated it on 7 October 2011 stating the idea dated from 1975. http://www.deredactie.be/permalink/1.1126779
External links
- Home page
- Hoorens Koffie
- Art galleries with works by Panamarenko: