Awareness - Theo Jansen

Theo Jansen's work revolves around making lifelike creations that he calls Strandbeests. Strandbeests are made of the yellow plastic tubing that is used in electrical work and are powered entirely by the wind. They have legs and muscle like parts that let them walk around the beach, and Jansen is developing more parts for the Strandbeests that will allow them to store energy and sense when they are near the water. It is really interesting to see how he has developed these complex creatures that are a purely mechanical machine, there is nothing electrical in them. Jansen began on the Strandbeests in 1990. Over time, he has made new iterations of them that he says are meant to be like the evolution of the Strandbeests. His overall goal with his work is to create a new life form so that he can better understand nature.

Website: https://www.strandbeest.com/ 

Shortened CV:

2021 -

Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art Japan, Theo Jansen Exhibition

Land Art Delft Sculpture Park, Ode aan het landschap (group)

World Art Delft, Theo Jansen solo

2020 -

Member of the Dutch Academy of Arts

AKINCI gallery, Amsterdam - NL

Centro de Ciencias de Sinaloa, Sinaloa - Mexico

Gorcums Museum On the move! (group) - NL

2019 -

Museo Nazionale della Scienza e della Tecnologia Leonardo da Vinci, Milano

ARTZUID 2019, Amsterdam - NL (group)

Saporro Art Museum, Saporro - Japan

Empatische Systeme Frankfurter Kunstverein, Frankfurt

Dome Fukui, Fukui - Japan

2018 -

Wind Algorithms, Fundación Mar Adentro, Santiago - Chile

ArtScience Museum Marina Bay Sands - Singapore

Full CV: https://www.strandbeest.com/page/exhibitions

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/2e5492_d72660b5e7b947d09c677f05adf78277/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

Theo Jansen, Animaris Rex, Summer 2023

Theo Jansen, Ader, 2020, PVC, tie wraps , dracon, plastic, rope

Theo Jansen, Sketch of the Currens Ventosa

I love the science and engineering that Jansen uses in his work. The best way to look at his work is definitely through the videos of his Strandbeests moving. The way their legs move is mesmerizing and there is also just this sense of awe when looking at such a large thing move across the beach.