amazing kinetic scupture

[nibot]

(This video is actually from a BMW commercial, but I think the guy is legit.)

" Theo Jansen (1948) studied physics at the University of Delft (The Netherlands) from 1968-1975. He left University to become an artist. He painted for the first seven years. In 1980 he built a flying saucer (15 ft flashing lights, beep sounds) that flew over Delft and set the town in commotion. Then he built a light sensitive spray-gun which paints an object on a surface. Since 1986 Theo Jansen has been writing a column for the Volkskrant (national newspaper). Since 1990 he has been working on a new creation: skeletons made of electric-conduits which walk on windpower. These animals have evolved into several generations over the last twelve years. Eventually he wants to put the animals out in herds on the beaches, where they live their own lives."

four, you have to go visit this guy!

It seems someone is making a documentary about him: http://www.strandbeestmovie.com/

See also: http://www.strandbeest.com/movies.html

Comments

[kaolinfire.livejournal.com]

good stuff--I haven't seen anything about him in a while. Lots of stuff in there I haven't seen before, too. Impressive creations, definitely.

[gaal.livejournal.com]

Awesome!

The U Chicago scavhunt that is going on right now gives like 300 points (http://scavhunt1.uchicago.edu/lists/list2007.pdf) to the team acquiring one.

[jcreed.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I saw him talk at CMU once; it was great.

[lert.livejournal.com]

When I saw the strandbeests a year or so ago, I went out and bought Q-tips and glue and tried to make mini versions of my own. I gave up far too quickly.