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Art and engineering intertwine at ArtScience Museum's Strandbeests exhibition

Theo Jansen with Plaudens Vela 2. (PHOTO: Media Force)
Theo Jansen with Plaudens Vela 2. (PHOTO: Media Force)

Bringing together art and science, Dutch artist Theo Jansen’s world-famous moving sculptures are set to make their first appearance in Singapore.

They will be on display in the Wind Walkers: Theo Jansen’s Strandbeests exhibition at the ArtScience Museum from tomorrow (23 June) to 30 September this year.

The exhibition – Jansen’s first in Southeast Asia – will feature 13 of his famous large-scale mechanical creatures called Strandbeests or “beach animals”, which walk in a lifelike manner utilising only wind power.

It also includes interactive educational activities for all ages that explore the creativity of Jansen’s engineering.

Tickets, priced from $12 to $54, are available at Marina Bay Sands’ box offices and website.

Animaris Burchus Primus by Theo Jansen. (PHOTO: Media Force)
Animaris Burchus Primus by Theo Jansen. (PHOTO: Media Force)

Intricately constructed from everyday objects, the Strandbeests were originally designed to roam beaches and protect coastlines, in an effort to combat rising sea levels due to global warming.

With its ability to navigate the shore through changing tide direction and anchor themselves ahead of oncoming storms, the Strandbeests are capable of responding to changing environmental conditions.

“There are few people working today who embody the intersection of art and science as beautifully as Theo Jansen,” said Honor Harger, Executive Director of ArtScience Museum, adding that the exhibition enacts Jansen’s personal philosophy that “the walls between art and engineering exist only in our minds”.

Jansen initially trained as a physicist before focusing on art, applying his background in both art and science to create his self-propelled Strandbeests.

“While I have spent the past 28 years developing new versions of the Strandbeests, I dream that one day they will be able to roam the beach freely and survive on their own,” Jansen said.

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