Theo Jansen

Jansen was born in Scheveningen in the Netherlands. He grew up with a talent for both physics and art, and studied physics at the Delft University of Technology. Jansen left the university in 1974 without a degree. While at Delft, Jansen was involved in many projects that involved both art and technology, including a paint machine and a flying-saucer machine. Flying saucer In 1979 Jansen started using cheap PVC pipes to build a -wide flying saucer that was filled with helium. It was launched over Delft in 1980 on a day when the sky was hazy. Light and sound came from the saucer. Because the saucer was black against a light sky, its size was difficult to determine. The police even stated that it was 30 meters wide, and some people swore they saw a halo around it. Jansen has claimed that this project "caused a near-riot". ==The strandbeest==

city square during Ars Electronica, 2005 Since 1990, Jansen has been creating strandbeesten (Dutch for "beach animals", singular strandbeest - see also English cognate ), which are moving kinetic structures, sometimes wind-propelled, that resemble walking animals, described by Jansen as artificial life. All of his models are based on a system of triangles and connecting links which convert the rotation of an axle into a stepping motion of six or more legs. This allows the strandbeesten to travel over sand much more efficiently than if they were to travel on wheels. What was at first a rudimentary "breed" has evolved slowly, with the help of evolutionary computation techniques, into a generation of kinetic sculptures that can react to their environment to some degree. According to Jansen, he was inspired by The Blind Watchmaker by Richard Dawkins. Jansen has said "I make skeletons that are able to walk on the wind. 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." Constructed from PVC piping, wood, fabric airfoils, and zip ties, Jansen's sculptures are constantly being improved and are designed to function in the sandy beach environment in which Jansen releases them. The sculptures are also able to store air pressure in order to propel themselves in the absence of wind. Jansen's more sophisticated creations are able to detect when they have entered water and are then able to move away from it. One model is capable of anchoring itself to the earth if an approaching storm is sensed. A 2016 episode of The Simpsons, "The Nightmare After Krustmas", featured the strandbeesten and Jansen. He provided the voice for his cartoon character. Evolutionary periods of Strandbeest • Volantum – Flying Strandbeests; 2020–2021 • Bruchum – Caterpillar Strandbeests; 2016–2019 • Aurum – "Weak wind" Strandbeests; 2013–2015 • Aspersorium – Tail-wagging Strandbeests; 2012–2013 • Suicideem – "Suicidal" Strandbeests; 2009–2011 • Cerebrum – Simple Brained Strandbeests; 2006–2008 • Vaporum – Pneumatic-powered Strandbeests; 2001–2006 • Lignatum – Wood-based Strandbeests; 1997–2001 • Tepideem – Herd Strandbeests; 1994–1997 • Calidum – "Osteoporosis" Strandbeests; 1993–1994 • Chorda – Cable-tie Strandbeests; 1991–1993 • Gluton – Adhesive tape Strandbeests; 1990–1991 • Pregluton – Pre-Strandbeests, beginning of ideas and drawings; 1986–1989 ==See also==