Panamarenko (1940-2019) - Machines that walk

Offset printed on 250g high-quality paper.
Copyright Panamarenko Foundation, SABAM Belgium
Signed at the top right of the plate.

Panamarenko, the pseudonym of Henri Van Herwegen, was born on February 5, 1940 in Antwerp and died on December 14, 2019. He was a prominent Belgian assemblage artist and sculptor, best known for his sculptures inspired by airplanes and other vehicles. His works, such as airplanes, hot air balloons and helicopters, are often modern interpretations of the myth of Icarus and combine art with technology and imagination.

Panamarenko studied from 1955 to 1960 at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp. Initially his work was influenced by pop art, but from 1968 he devoted himself to designing imaginary vehicles. His creations are made from materials such as tape, wood, plastic, glue, string, rubber tires and copper, and often refer to birds, insects and fish.

In 2003 Panamarenko married Eveline Hoorens. During the opening of a large-scale retrospective of his work in Brussels in 2005, he announced his retirement as an artist. After retiring, he launched his own coffee brand, PanamaJumbo. In 2009 VLM Airlines honored him by naming one of their Fokker 50 aircraft after him.

Panamarenko’s work is included in the collections of all major museums in Belgium. In 2002 he donated his parental home in Antwerp to the Museum of Contemporary Art Antwerp (MuHKA).

His innovative and poetic approach to art remains a source of inspiration and admiration within the contemporary art world.