Dutch beach beasts find a final resting place in a new exhibition
Now. they have a final resting place in a Dutch city most famous for 'Girl with a Pearl Earring' painter Johannes Vermeer and blue-painted pottery.
The 'bones' of Theo Jansen's 'strandbeesten' — beach animals in Dutch — have taken over a former cable factory in Delft, the small city in the western Netherlands that Jansen has called home for decades.
'During the years, there has been a sort of evolutionary history, you could say. And you could see these animals as sort of natural historical objects,' the 77-year old artist told The Associated Press before the installation's opening.
The Strandbeesten Mortuary, as the exhibition is called, follows the various versions of the mobile sculptures since 1990 when Jansen created the first one from plastic pipes and tape. As the animals evolved, Jansen incorporated plastic bottles, wooden planks, cloth and cardboard.
The life and death cycle of these famous animals — formed mostly out of PVC pipes — has left behind an impressive fossil record, which is on display at the exhibition.
Marloes Koster, who organized the exhibition for Delft's Prinsenhof Museum, said that Jansen's ultimate goal is to create a beast that will live forever.
'He's not there yet, so these are the ones that didn't make it,' she added.
The museum is undergoing major renovations, so Koster and her colleagues have been putting together arts and culture events at alternative venues around the city while the building is shut.
Born near the North Sea, Jansen grew up captivated by the wind that often hits the Dutch coastline. He harnessed it to allow his animals to 'walk' along the beach. Every year, he creates a new strandbeest and, at the end of the summer, declares the animal dead.
'All summer I do experiments, and in the fall I'm a little bit wiser (about) how these animals should survive in the future,' Jansen said.
Many of the visitors to the opening of the exhibition had followed Jansen's work for years and were keen to understand how the strandbeesten had changed over time.
'You see a kind of development in the way he does things. So they start out very simple, and then it gets increasingly complicated. So they evolve,' said Cor Nonhof, a Delft local who had come to see the exhibition with his wife.
Even at the opening, Jansen was already keen to return to the beach to work on the latest evolution of his strandbeesten.
'I cannot do anything else,' Jansen said. 'And I am very happy with that.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Kneecap banned in Hungary but vow to use their platform to call out ‘genocide and the war criminals'
This summer has seen Irish rappers Kneecap dropped from a number of line-ups, including Germany's Hurricane and Southside festivals, as well as being slapped with a three-year ban from Hungary ahead of their planned performance at Sziget – where the band would have played tonight. 'It is important to say that Hungary is an island of freedom and peace in a troubled world. Here, no one can be abused because of their origin or religion, even verbally. The organizers could have been wise enough not to invite them and not put Hungary in such a situation.' These were the words of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, referring to Kneecap's ban. Orbán also labelled Kneecap as 'anti-Semitic', with the Hungarian government stating that the band's statements cannot be protected by artistic freedom or freedom of expression. The band has denied accusations of anti-Semitism, claiming that those attacking the band 'weaponize' the false accusation to 'distract, confuse, and provide cover for genocide.' Kneecap has not been deterred and has frequently used their platform at various music festivals to speak out not against the Jewish people but against Israel's war in Gaza. They did so at Coachella – where they denounced the US government's funding of 'war criminal Israel'; at Best Kept Secret - where the pre-show screening denounces the 'Israeli genocide and the Western media's cover-up"; at Glastonbury – where their controversial set alongside Bob Vylan launched a police investigation; and most recently during their set at Øyafestivalen in Oslo. Related Glastonbury controversy explained: Police investigate Kneecap and Bob Vylan sets Police drop criminal investigation into Kneecap after controversial Glastonbury performance BBC director of music steps down after Bob Vylan Glastonbury controversy Indeed, the band criticised the Norwegian government ahead of their performance at the festival last Friday (8 August), displaying a message on the video screen that accused the Norwegian government of 'enabling' the 'genocide' in Gaza through the country's 'oil pension fund'. Kneecap were referring to the Government Pension Fund of Norway, which invests surplus revenues from the country's petroleum industry and has a reported €1.6trillion in assets. The fund has faced controversy after a recent report from Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten found it had invested around €13million in Bet Shemesh Engines Ltd. – a jet engines parts manufacturer supplying the Israeli military – between 2023-2024. In the wake of the report, the Norwegian government has launched a review of the fund to ensure that it is not investing in Israeli companies contributing to the war in Gaza. Norway has also recognised Palestine as a state. 'Over 80,000 people have been murdered by Israel in 21 months,' Kneecap's message continued. 'Free Palestine.' During their Oslo performance, Kneecap could be heard on stage saying: 'The fact is, as long as we're on stage and as long as nothing is changing, Kneecap will always use this platform and this stage to call out the genocide and the war criminals. I don't need to lecture you people when your oil fund is being used to fund the genocide.' Band member Mo Chara also gave a 'quick shout-out' to Øyafestivalen for 'standing by Kneecap' despite calls for them to be removed from the line-up. Not every festival stands by Kneecap's freedom of expression, as evidenced by the recent news that the band's upcoming gig in Vienna on 1 September has been cancelled 'due to acute safety concerns', following political pressure from Austria's far-right Freedom Party (FPÖ). However, and despite the ban, Sziget tried to defend Kneecap's performance for as long as it could. The organisers' position was to condemn hate speech, but to guarantee all performers the right to artistic expression. Related Kneecap debut London billboards ahead of 'witch hunt' terror court appearance Artists support Kneecap as UK counterterror police confirm investigation A statement from Sziget also mentions that they have been in close contact with members of Kneecap, who assured them that their show would not violate Hungarian law or Sziget's principles. Still, the Hungarian government's decision means that fans will be left wanting. Festival director Tamás Kádár called the ban on Kneecap an unprecedented, unnecessary and regrettable move that will damage Sziget and Hungary's international image. Kádár told Euronews Culture at a press briefing on Day Zero that many in the pop scene were deeply shocked by what had happened, and that he believed the issue went far beyond Kneecap. "I think that this is not about the band, but about the world's attitude to culture in general, or politics' attitude to culture,' Kádár said, adding: 'Or rather, the fact that recently, politics and war have entered the cultural life of the day. And it seems that not all politicians know what to do with that." Conversely, audiences do know what to do, as many were heard chanting "dirty Fidesz" (Orbán's national-conservative party) and several Free Palestine flags were seen during the opening day of Sziget festival. While Hungarian audiences have been deprived of Kneecap, many other festivals are sticking with the band – including the upcoming Green Man Festival in Wales. The band has more than forty concerts remaining on its calendar for this year – including dates in Sweden, Norway, Finland, France and Belgium – and then a US leg which kicks off in October. Since Hamas' attack on Israeli citizens on October 7, 2023, multiple UN human rights experts have stated that Israel's military actions in Gaza amount to genocide, with the International Court of Justice finding claims of genocide plausible. Israel has rejected the genocide accusations and maintain that its operations are lawful acts of self-defence. Claims Kneecap have vocally rebuked. And will continue to do so.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Maya Jama reveals Ruben Dias' staggering trophy cabinet
Manchester City vice-captain Ruben Dias has seen his remarkable trophy cabinet unveiled on Instagram by girlfriend Maya Jama. The Portugal international has become one of the most decorated defenders in European football since joining Manchester City in the summer of 2020, playing a vital role in the club's era of dominance under Pep Guardiola. From Premier League titles to UEFA Champions League glory, Dias has built an impressive personal collection of silverware, and fans have now been given a rare look inside his home trophy display thanks to a casual post from his high-profile partner. Since confirming their relationship earlier this year, Maya Jama and Ruben Dias have become one of football's most talked-about celebrity couples. Jama – a widely recognised figure in British television – has frequently been spotted attending City matches and supporting Dias both publicly and privately. But her latest Instagram story may have given Manchester City fans their favourite glimpse yet behind the scenes of the club's elite inner circle. With Dias widely regarded as a key figure in Pep Guardiola's leadership group, it comes as no surprise that his domestic success is matched by an equally commanding home tribute to his achievements. Now, thanks to Jama's post, supporters have been able to marvel at the stunning collection amassed by one of City's most consistent performers. Posing for a selfie upload to her Instagram story on Thursday, the television presenter and partner of the Manchester City defender showcased the remarkable haul of honours placed in a position of pride within Dias' city centre apartment. Dias' trophy cabinet includes four consecutive Premier League titles, a UEFA Champions League winners' medal, an FA Cup triumph, and a host of individual accolades, including Manchester City's Player of the Season for 2020/21 and a UEFA Champions League Team of the Season inclusion. His role in City's historic treble-winning campaign during the 2022/23 season arguably remains the standout moment of his career thus far. While the trophy cabinet may be located in a private residence, the display is symbolic of Dias' leadership and winning mentality – a trait that Pep Guardiola and his staff have repeatedly praised. His on-field presence, vocal authority, and willingness to guide younger teammates like Josko Gvardiol and Vitor Reis highlight why he continues to be one of the squad's most respected senior figures. As Manchester City prepare to embark on a new campaign with aspirations of reclaiming the Premier League and making another push for Champions League success, Ruben Dias' influence will again be critical. He remains one of the club's fittest and most dependable players, often available when others around him are battling injury setbacks.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Prince William confides in this unexpected family member when he needs advice
Prince William reportedly confides in this unexpected family member when he's in need of advice. Royal biographer Katie Nicholl revealed in the podcast Dynasty that the Princess of Wales' father Michael Middleton is someone that William will often turn to in stressful situations, explaining 'I know they have a close relationship, and that William will often turn to Michael for advice.' According to Nicholl, Michael has 'a cool head in a crisis … [and] has a great sense of humour.' In her book William and Harry, Nicholl wrote that 'Michael is a man of fewer words, but you can tell he adores his family. He always sits at the head of the table, and you can see his delight as he listens to his children chat about their recent adventures.' Although it's claimed that William will often refer to his father-in-law as Mike, he has also been known to call him Dad. Video transcript Prince William reportedly confides in this unexpected family member when he's in need of advice. Royal biographer Katie Nicholl revealed in the podcast Dynasty that the Princess of Wales's father, Michael Middleton, is someone that William will often turn to in stressful situations. Explaining, I know they have a close relationship and that William will often turn to Michael for advice. Michael has a cool head in a crisis. And has a great sense of humour. In her book, William and Harry, Nicholl wrote that although Michael is a man of fewer words, you can tell he adores his family. He always sits at the head of the table, and you can see his delight as he listens to his children chat about their recent adventures. It's been claimed that William will often refer to his father-in-law as Mike, but he has also been known to affectionately call him dad.
