Theo Jansen

Theodorus Gerardus Jozef Jansen, known as Theo Jansen, is a Dutch artist born on 14 March 1948. He is renowned for his remarkable creations, collectively titled Strandbeest, which are large mechanisms made of PVC that can move on their own. Jansen's kinetic sculptures exhibit the ability to walk, blurring the lines between art and engineering. With a background in physics and art, he studied physics at Delft University of Technology but left without a degree in 1974. Throughout his career, Jansen has strived to merge art and technology, developing projects such as a paint machine and a flying-saucer machine. His ultimate goal is to equip his creations with artificial intelligence, enabling them to navigate obstacles like the sea by altering their course upon detection.