KMSKA pays tribute to Panamarenko in riveting expo
31 January will see the opening of the exhibition Panamarenko. Infinite Imagination in the print room of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp (KMSKA). On the occasion of his 85th birthday, the museum highlights the inquisitive mind of the Antwerp artist with a selection of playful objects and works on paper. An exploration in which - as in his inventive body of work - magic, wonder and poetry reign alongside science.
In 2025, Henri Van Herwegen, better known as Panamarenko, would have turned 85. With the exhibition Panamarenko. Infinite Imagination, the KMSKA focuses on the artist's creative spirit and the joy he derived from creating his works. Works with which he not only conquered Antwerp, but also exhibited worldwide: from New York to Basel and from Japan to Germany.
“The KMSKA was delighted to respond to the Panamarenko Foundation's request to participate in Panamarenko85, an initiative to resurrect Panamarenko's limitless imagination. Together with M HKA, Havenhuis - Port of Antwerp-Bruges and Cultuurcentrum Knokke-Heist, we form a strong network to celebrate the Antwerp visionary.’’ - Carmen Willems, general director KMSKA vzw
Panamarenko as artistic inventor
For many, the name Panamarenko conjures up images of ingenious creations such as the Aeromodeller (1969-1971) or the Scotch Gambit (1966-1999). Yet his work is difficult to capture in one style. What is certain is that for Panamarenko, the creative process is more important than the end result. This opens up a world of endless possibilities. His game rules are the laws of science, with which he creates an alternative world imbued with poetic power. His prime fascination lies in exploring ideas and then translating them into a tangible reality.
Presently, Panamarenko's unique connection with reality takes on another dimension. Although his creations do not directly answer current social challenges, his playful and inquisitive mind inspires new ways of dealing with them. His revolutionary yet poetic machines challenge us to look at the world from a different perspective - even today.
Panamarenko as an ingenious artist
Before turning his prolific imagination into reality, Panamarenko works out his creations on paper. In more than 400 drawings, Panamarenko brings his ideas to life in his distinctive, playful drawing style and with technical details in the margins. He experiments with a variety of materials such as biro, pencil, watercolour, felt pen and even Tipp-Ex, and adds dynamism
through the use of tape and translucent layers. In this way, his drawings become independent works of art that reveal his visual thought experiments on a two-dimensional scale.
“Panamarenko was someone who thought outside the box and did his own thing. What is so beautiful about his work is that it shows what is possible when you use your imagination to its full potential. With drawings and original objects from both private and museum collections, Panamarenko. Infinite Imagination offers a unique insight into the creative mind of this extraordinary Antwerp artist.” - Lisa van Gerven, curator of Panamarenko. Infinite Imagination
