Self-Propelled Vinyl Beasts Invade Europe

YPENBURG, THE NETHERLANDS, April 11, 2011 — Like creatures from a science fiction movie, large skeletal creatures made of PVC pipe have been spotted creeping across beaches and flatlands in Europe and Asia.

Strandbeests, as the creatures are called, are the creation of kinetic artist Theo Jansen, a physicist and painter from the Netherlands.  Since 1990 in his Ypenburg laboratory, Jansen has been devising skeletons taller than humans and several feet long, consisting of electro-conduits which walk on windpower.   

Strandbeests are made of yellow PVC tubing, and plastic bottles containing air that can be pumped to a high pressure by the wind.  Several little pumps are driven by wings at the front of the beast that flap in the breeze and slowly fill the bottles with pressurized air.  Controlled release of the air propels the beasts across the ground. 

The PVC tubes form the skeleton and contain smaller tubes with rubber rings that serve as pistons.  When air is released the smaller tubes move inside the larger tubes, pushing the pistons outwards and lengthening the beast’s bones, which then open more taps to lengthen other bones.

In the middle of each beast is a crankshaft that serves as its spine.  Painstakingly computing the best lengths for the spine and a series of 11 rotating rods helped determine the optimum specifications to create the creeping beast’s smooth movement.

The resulting image of a Strandbeest in motion fascinates both first-time and repeat viewers.     

In 2006, Jensen’s beasts were let loose in London’s Trafalgar Square, and at an exhibition of the London Institute of Contemporary Art.  Exhibitions followed in Tokyo in 2009 and Seoul in 2010.  Strandbeest events follow in Amsterdam in April and the Oita City Art Museum in Japan from July through September.

Jansen remarked, “Over time, these skeletons have become increasingly better at surviving the elements such as storm and water, and eventually I want to put these animals out in herds on the beaches, so they will live their own lives.”

For more information, go to www.strandbeest.com. 

Also view video on YouTube.

The Vinyl Institute represents the leading manufacturers involved in the production of PVC/vinyl resin in the United States, and promotes the value of PVC/vinyl products to society. 

For more information on The Vinyl Institute, contact:
Jeffrey B. Palmer
Director of Marketing & Communications
The Vinyl Institute
571-970-3327
jpalmer@vinylinfo.org