Panamarenko's Magic Carpet

About

This remarkable sculpture, which was only shown once at the Biennale of Sydney in 1979, will finally be exhibited to the public from 29.Nov.24 to 5.Jan.25. in Room 1 at S.M.A.K. In collaboration with the Panamarenko Foundation.

Panamarenko spent his entire life dreaming, sketching, designing and creating works about the ultimate goal of flying: to find a way for humans to propel themselves through the air. Straddling artistic and technological experimentation, his work takes the form of airplanes, submarines, cars and birds. He always created spectacular constructions of strange beauty, both playful and awe-inspiring.

In 1978, Panamarenko was invited to participate in the European Dialogue exhibition, part of the 3rd Biennale of Sydney, alongside artists such as Marina Abramović, Joseph Beuys, Marcel Broodthaers, Daniel Buren, Valie Export, Mario Merz, Hermann Nitsch and Gerhard Richter. He exhibited a sculpture of a flying carpet, which was presented until May 1979. The work then returns to Belgium where it has since been stored in the S.M.A.K. collection depot.

Forty-five years later, from 29.Nov.24 to 5.Jan.25, the public can discover the original, wooden Magic Carpet for free in Room 1 of S.M.A.K. This unveiling sheds new light on Panamarenko’s visionary legacy and offers a rare opportunity to discover a historically significant masterpiece that has remained hidden for decades.

This presentation marks the start of the Panamarenko 85 year in 2025, celebrated in collaboration with M HKA – Museum of Contemporary Art Antwerp; KMSKA – Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp; Havenhuis – Port of Antwerp-Bruges; Opera Ballet Vlaanderen; and the Scharpoord Cultural Centre in Knokke-Heist. The accompanying publication, Panamarenko Fundamentals, is published by Borgerhoff & Lamberigts.