Artist14: Theo Jansen

The walls between engineering and art exist only in our minds.
-Theo Jansen


Theo Jansen combines physics, engineering, artificial intelligence, and biology, fusing these areas of study together with his art. He uses this eclectic mix of disciplines to create moving 'organisms' which respond to their environment, taking in energy and performing functions based on that energy. Some are pushed with the wind while others work on air pressure and gravity. He tries to capture and use energy in the most efficient form, allowing his creations to 'survive' largely on their own. Jansen even discusses letting his sculptures simply exist on the beaches that he places them on, allowing them free reign to walk up and down the sands. Below are some videos demonstrating his work...providing static images just wouldn't convey the kinetic grace of these machines:

My previous blog entry focused on another kinetic sculptor, Jean Tinguely, who created similarly complex machines. Much of Tinguely's work focused around destruction and collapse. Jansen, on the other hand, takes a much more constructive approach, focusing on creating life and building on what already exists. Two very different artists within a very specific and small subcategory of art, which provide good foils to one another.