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: Wim Van Eesbeek

Vliegende schotel [Flying Saucer], 1979

Panamarenko

Object , 64.5 x 66.4 x 42.9 cm

cardboard base with two copper coils, plexiglas flying saucers with eight magnets, compass and a typed, signed and dated statement

Panamarenko believes that the development of space travel could be boosted significantly by relying exclusively on forces that already exist in the universe. He describes the magnetic fields in space as ‘cosmic highways’ that could be used to navigate between the planets. Panamarenko wants to build his magnetic spacecraft according to the principle of the monopole – a magnet with a single pole – which would be attracted by the opposite pole. Although many scientists deny that a magnetic monopole exists, Panamarenko persists in his quest for single-pole electrons, in the hope of one day finding his way to a magnetic field. The 1979 Flying Saucer experiment consists of two coils with copper wire, a small saucer with eight magnets and a compass. Panamarenko completed the installation with a typed statement of his space theory.

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