World Premier in the Quarry
By Shift Time reporter Lorna Green
Adverse weather conditions on a Dutch beach last week have led to the world première of an artwork in action taking place in Shrewsbury.
Dutch engineer and kinetic sculptor Theo Jansen was commissioned to build one of his famous 'strandbeests' as the main feature for the Shift Time festival of ideas, which runs from July 3 to 12. He tried to test the work, named Animaris Umerus, on a Dutch beach last Tuesday. But due to high winds he was unable to get the creature to walk.
Now, it is hoped that the 12 metes long by 2 metres wide sculpture will be seen to 'walk' for the first time in the Quarry park.
Shift Time blogger, Martin Smith, who travelled out to Holland last week to see the test run said: “Theo was unable to test Umerus in action because of the weather, but I saw another sculpture, the 'little beest', walk and it was incredible. It moves around just like a living being. We were mesmerised and enchanted by it. It is like a little pet and much smaller than Umerus.” Martin added that Theo would also be bringing the 'little beest' to Shrewsbury.
Theo Jansen has been creating mechanical, skeletal creature-like devices named strandbeests since 1990. Made of really basic Blue Peter stuff - plastic electrical tubing and 2 litres water bottles - these gigantic, complex beings get their energy from the wind, so they don’t have to eat like regular animals. Theo’s ultimate wish is to release herds of these new species to roam the world.
Theo will be arriving with Umerus on July 2. This means that he will be on site in the Quarry during the festival's free family days, July 4 and 5, to demonstrate his latest strandbeest.
Festival manager Jon King said: “Shift Time is delighted to be able to welcome Theo to Shrewsbury and don't forget his lecture the following Saturday, July 11, in the stunning setting of St Mary's Church.”
More details of the Theo Jansen events here
See Martin Smith's interview with Theo in Holland here
By Shift Time reporter Lorna Green
30 June 2009
