Belgian artist Panamarenko dies at 79

Panamarenko, born Henri Van Herwegen in Antwerp in 1940, has died at 79. Known for his whimsical aircraft and machines that never fly, he was a visionary sculptor blending art and engineering. Trained at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts (1955–1960), he was influenced by Joseph Beuys, who invited him to exhibit at the Düsseldorf Academy in 1968. His works include planes, submarines, flying carpets, and birds, shown at Documenta IX, Centre Pompidou, MoMA, and Reina Sofia. He retired in 2005 to launch a coffee brand, PanamaJumbo. In 2009, VLM Airlines named a Fokker 50 after him. He received honorary doctorates from the University of Hasselt (2010) and the University of Mons (2014). A memorial exhibition runs January 24–March 22, 2020, at Campo & Campo gallery in Borgerhout, followed by a summer show at MUHKA in Antwerp. Flemish Culture Minister Jan Jambon called him "one of our most surprising artists."