“The Sower” key ring (blue)

“The Sower” key ring

A project in cooperation with Vives University of Applied Sciences / Maaklab, Kortrijk

Help us bring back the sculpture ‘The Sower’  to the Permeke Museum’s beautiful garden. Buy this unique key ring with a small replica of ‘The Sower’s head. Your generous contribution will make it possible for us to achieve the seemingly impossible together!

 Research into Constant Permeke’s sculptural techniques began three years ago, with the renovation of the Permeke Museum. It is widely known that Permeke started experimenting with the art of sculpture in later life. He used various materials, such as clay, bronze and artificial stone. Fascinatingly, Permeke made several versions of some sculptures, so that various unique specimens have survived.

The stimulus for this research project came in 2009, when the Permeke Museum decided to carefully pack up the iconic work ‘The Sower’ and move it to the basement of the museum. The artificial stone artwork once had a place of honour in Permeke’s own garden, but decades later it was severely damaged when rust formed on the armature (internal framework).  As a result, even after restauration, the sculpture can no longer stand outside. We have therefore chosen to have a beautiful replica created in the garden. But before we can do this we need to thoroughly research the history of the sculpture, catalogue all the different versions and understand the way this exceptional artist worked. We shall soon decide on the best method to make a faithful reproduction. Might modern 3D technologies perhaps offer the perfect solution?

Will you help us make this a reality? Buy a key ring today.

Mu.ZEE and the Permeke Museum thank you!