reisende sommer - republik 2005 dokumentation

„STRANDBEESTEN“
SUMMARY
The Dutch scientist and artist Theo
Jansen is the creator of a new form of
life. He builds artificial animals, windpowered
beings that live on the
beach. In Ypenburg, a new residential
development near The Hague, he develops
these artificial creatures in a
magical workshop situated on the top
of a hill.
The story of the Strandbeesten, as Jansen calls them, began over 14 years ago. On the 24th of February,
1990 he published an article in the well-known "Volkskrant" newspaper. He described constructions
that could live on the beach and put sand on top of the dunes to protect the flatlands of Holland
against the rising of the ocean.
It started as a sort of mental play, but Jansen stuck with it. He decided to make his vision come to life.
He began to build his own constructions out of thin, yellow, plastic tubes. In the midst of his work, his
vision deepened. He began to see, in the creation of these artificial animals, the very roots of life -- of
existence. He saw a new Evolutionary path wrought by the dictates of Art over Biology, an Artistic Evolution.
Jansen's ultimate dream is to build a whole herd of these Strandbeesten, capable of being put
out to pasture and left to roam free. They should live there, in the wild, multiplying and striving for survival
as beasts of Nature. His dream sounds like "science fiction". Some people think he is a madman.
Others think he is a genius. But who is Theo Jansen?
The art critics compare him to Alexander Calder or Jean Tinguely. He sees himself in the tradition of
Leonardo da Vinci.
His work in Artistic Evolution addresses two large issues in human society: the devastation of our environment
and the hazards of genetic manipulation of life. Jansen wants to find answers outside of the
laboratories and the academies.
The film accompanies Jansen through
four seasons, while he creates a new
generation of Strandbeesten. It depicts
his loneliness and open-mindedness, his
doubts and courage, his setbacks and
ultimately, his visionary power.
Alexander Schlichter
Lange Str. 4
30926 Seelze OT Döteberg
alexander.schlichter@gmx.de
05137-128315
SOMMER - REPUBLIK
124