 | Henri Van Herwegen PANAMARENKO 1940 — Генрі ПАНАМАРЕНКО • Генри ПАНАМАРЕНКОPanamarenko was born in Antwerp in 1940. A prominent assemblagist in Belgian sculpture famous for his work with airplanes as theme. Panamarenko studied at the academy of Antwerp. Before 1968, his art was inspired by Pop-art, but soon found an interest in planes 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, balloons or helicopters, 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. 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 April 24, 2009, VLM Airlines based in Antwerp, Belgium named one of their Fokker 50 aircraft in his honour. |
