For Saturday, something entirely different.
Perhaps you may have come across this on YouTube, as I did.
Strandbeest is the creation of Theo Jansen:
Theodorus Gerardus Jozef Jansen (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈteːjoː ˈjɑnsə(n)]; born 14 March 1948) is a Dutch artist. In 1990, he began building large mechanisms out of PVC that are able to move on their own and, collectively, are titled Strandbeest (Dutch for ‘beach beast’). The kinetic sculptures appear to walk. His animated works are intended to be a fusion of art and engineering. He has said that “The walls between art and engineering exist only in our minds.” Some of his creations are reported to incorporate primitive logic gates for collision detection with obstacles such as the sea.[2]
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There are several YouTube pieces about Strandbeest including one that goes into more technical detail.
Whatever else one thinks about these creations, they are extremely clever and while they may be made of plastic, compared to many forms of entertainment they are very low-impact. I find them enjoyable to watch.
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This was a short post I put together months ago but never published. As I am currently adjusting to a new computer, I am a little behind.
Therefore – this seems a good time to offer the Strandbeest…
…before returning to the struggle!
These are mesmerising, and I could sit and watch them moving all day. It must be amazing to see them full-size on an actual beach. I’m not concerned that they are plastic, as long as they don’t break up and enter the sea. Otherwise, they can eventually be recycled, I’m sure.
Best wishes, Pete.
What fun!