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: M HKA

Persis Clambatta II, 2001

Panamarenko

Object , 29 x 39 x 15.5 cm

wood, clay, solar cells, electrical cells

Panamarenko attempts to solve the nagging technical problem of the control mechanism in his second-generation Archaeopteryxes (starting in 2001). Gradually he abandons the too-heavy electronic controls, and replaces them with a completely mechanical system. It is mainly in his workshop in the Furka Pass in the Swiss Alps, that he likes to 'fiddle around' with his chickens, as he likes to say. The Persis Clambatta from 2001 is a fresh attempt to arrive at a moving chicken-robot. The construction is still partly electronic, including eight servomotors. The name of the chicken is a wink to the actress Persis Khambatta, who played in the science-fiction film Star Trek: The Motion Picture from 1979.

'I liked her look, and on top of that the film was full of all kinds of little robots...' - Panamarenko

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