Kinetic artist Theo Jansen creates complex and bizarre new lifeforms that the artist hopes will one day roam the ocean-sides in herds. The creatures, called Strandbeests, at first glance may look more on the order of installation art than a living thing, but more than a cursory look will have you exclaiming, “It’s alive!”
Strandbeest by Theo Jansen
Jansen explains, “Since 1990 I have been occupied creating new forms of life. Not pollen or seeds but plastic yellow tubes are used as the basic material of this new nature. I make skeletons that are able to walk on the wind, so they don’t have to eat. Over time, these skeletons have become increasingly better at surviving the elements such as storms and water and eventually I want to put these animals out in herds on the beaches, so they will live their own lives.”
Strandbeests by Theo Jansen
Theo Jansen has evolved his Strandbeests several generations over the twenty years he’s been working on them. They have become increasingly adapted to their harsh environment (the sand and sea), can be programmed to understand where they are on the beach & in which direction they are going, and have even be taught to have a sense of self-preservation; one Strandbeest creature was designed to pin itself safely down when it detected high winds. Incredibly impressive for a series of plastic tubes, bottles & string!
Strandbeest by Theo Jansen
Most recently, Theo has been trying out his lastest model, the Animaris Siamesis. “The Siamesis is a twin animal, which is armed against strong winds. The two animals hold each other and prevent in this way being blown over. It has the largest wind stomach untill now, so it can save a lot of spare wind. Since the wind has been the friend and enemy of the strandbeests, the Siamesis is a significant step in evolution.”
Strandbeest by Theo Jansen
Jansen will be testing the Animaris Siamesis June 25, 2010 through June 27, 2010 from 2pm to 4pm on the beach of Exmouth UK, and again in the same area/time from July 2, 2010 until July 4, 2010. If you’re in the United Kingdom or plan to be during these times, it would certainly be a magnificent sight so don’t miss it (and send me pictures)!
Strandbeest by Theo Jansen
Strandbeest by Theo Jansen
A film about Theo Jansen & his Strandbeest creations is also in the works. For more information & a behind-the-scenes look, visit http://www.strandbeestmovie.com/.
Behind the Scenes - Strandbeest The Movie
If you’re interested in learning to creature similar kinetic sculptures, you’ll be happy to know that Theo Jansen‘s Strandbeest designs have been re-invented on the small scale for those of you with K’nex brand motorized construction toys.
Read the tutorial
on Instructables.com
K'Nex Strandbeest
While the small motorized design is limited, it’s still really neat & would make a great family project. Read the comments for lots of great tips from others who’ve tried the design.
Strandbeest by Theo Jansen
For more information on
Strandbeests
visit Theo Jansen at
http://www.strandbeest.com/
Strandbeest by Theo Jansen
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Tags: adapted, Animals, animaris siamesis, artist, beaches, behind the scenes, bizarre, designs, evolved, exmout, exmouth uk, film, harsh environment, herds, installation art, instructables, jansen, k'nex, kinetic art, kinetic artist, kinetic sculptures, lifeforms, motorized, plastic, plastic tubes, programmed, self-preservation, siamesis, skeletons, storms, strandbeest, strandbeest movie, strandbeests, surviving the elements, theo, theo jansen, theo jansen's strandbeest, tutorial, united kingdom, walk on the wind
