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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Flying Cigar Called Flying Tiger, 1980

Panamarenko

Object , 44 x 145 x 41 cm

plywood, coper wire, motors, string, glue, metal stand

Panamarenko explores different possibilities to make use of magnetic fields between planets for space travels, calling the former 'cosmic highways'. Flying Cigar Called Flying Tiger is a rather technical, abstract-looking rig that consists of three cylinders. A central, two-pole part that, by means of its gigantic magnetic field must get 'lift' vis-à-vis the Earth's magnetic field. And on both sides of that, a two-pole 'arm' to keep the balance.

This whole UFO legend is full of plates and flying cigars. The plates are the flying saucers belonging to the mother ship, and the mother ship is the cigar. The latter is actually a very big hollow tube. And those cylinders must by that big in order to be able to catch enough magnetic power. It's a spaceship that's eight hundred meters long and it can hold four thousand men.

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