It is truly inspiring to me when someone takes their theoretical ideas to the next level by actually creating something tangible. Something that is creatively alive in every way.
Recently I tripped upon a video about a innovative Dutch artist by the name of Theo Jansen. Part engineer and part artist, Theo creates kinetic sculptures. A kinetic sculptures is a 3-dimensional work of art that moves and engages its surrounding environment. In the case of Theo’s unique creations this movement comes from the wind. His highly complex forms have articulated legs that provide a rhythmic locomotion similar to the movement of a crab. The “feathers” as he calls them move in a very fluid nature and actually supply the energy or life to the creatures.What is truly amazing is that not a single component of his sculptures rely on electronics. Theo believes that “The walls between art and engineering exist only in our minds.” and he has proven this. Through genetic algorithms he has found a way to not only breathe life into inanimate objects but to do so in a way that they evolve an adapt to the surrounding environment. Since his creations live on the beaches near where he lives in Holland he has figured out a way that they can detect the waters edge and turn around so that they do not walk out to sea. Theo has been called by some the modern day Leonardo DaVinci and most recently his work was documented in an independent film by Alexander Schlichter called Strandbeesten: A Portrait of Theo Jansen.
