Karl Hans Janke: The Patented Inventor of Art Brut
Karl Hans Janke (1909–1988), a German artist confined to a psychiatric hospital for 38 years, produced thousands of technical drawings and models of flying machines, envisioning space travel and atomic engines. His work, discovered in 2000 in the Hubertusburg hospital attic, was first exhibited by Jan Hoet in 2001, followed by two shows curated by Peter Lang at Künstlerhaus Bethanien Berlin (2003) and the Peenemünde Museum. Janke's drawings, made with ballpoint pen and felt-tip on assembled A4 sheets, detail spacecraft trajectories and include membership cards for imaginary space research organizations. Despite his rigorous scientific approach, his inventions were declared peaceful objects. His archives remain intact under the Rosengarten association at Hubertusburg, preserving his legacy as an inventor rather than a commercial artist.
Key facts
- Karl Hans Janke was born in 1909 and died in 1988.
- He was interned at Hubertusburg clinic in Wermsdorf, East Germany, from 1950 until his death.
- His archives were discovered in 2000 by a doctor.
- Jan Hoet first presented Janke's work to the public in 2001.
- Peter Lang organized exhibitions at Künstlerhaus Bethanien (2003) and Peenemünde Museum.
- Janke's drawings are made on long sheets of A4 paper assembled with tape.
- He designed atomic engines and space vessels for peaceful purposes.
- His work is preserved by the Rosengarten association at Hubertusburg.
Entities
Artists
- Karl Hans Janke
- Jan Hoet
- Peter Lang
- Wernher von Braun
- Panamarenko
- Henry Darger
- Wilhelm Reich
- Nikola Tesla
- Pierre Curie
- Marie Curie
- Rudolf Steiner
Institutions
- Hubertusburg
- Künstlerhaus Bethanien
- Peenemünde Museum
- Rosengarten association
- Wehrmacht
- NASA
- Université de technologie de Berlin
- Institut national de la propriété industrielle
Locations
- Germany
- Wermsdorf
- East Germany
- Berlin
- Peenemünde
- London
- Moon
- Venus
- Germignac
- Charente-Maritime
Sources
- artpress —