Hans Theys

Hans Theys is a twentieth-century philosopher and art historian. He has written and designed dozens of books on the works of contemporary artists and published hundreds of essays, interviews and reviews in books, catalogues and magazines. All his publications are based on actual collaborations and conversations with artists.

This platform was developed by Evi Bert (M HKA / Centrum Kunstarchieven Vlaanderen) in collaboration with the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp (Research group Archivolt), M HKA, Antwerp and Koen Van der Auwera. We also thank Idris Sevenans (HOR) and Marc Ruyters (Hart Magazine).

Panamarenko

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(c)image: Syb'l S. Pictures

Grote Plumbiet [Big Plumbite], 1984

Panamarenko

Object , 110 x 180 x 180 cm, 2 x (150 cm), 150 x 150 cm

metal plates, magnet

'Thanks to the plumbiet, vikings could navigate...' - Panamarenko

The installation Big Plumbite is a magnetic rotor consisting of four red drums, each of which has sixty rectangular magnets fixed round the outside. The drums are supported by two longitudinal shafts perpendicular to each other. The
10,000-volt plumbite motors rotate the synchronized magnetic cylinder mechanism, generating powerful magnetic forces in the field above the machine, in which metal discs and flying saucers can hover. The title of the installation refers to the naturally magnetic lead ore ‘plumbite’.

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