Strandbeesten

STRANDBEESTEN is a portrait of the Dutch artist and scientist Theo Jansen. Since about 19 years Theo Jansen is occupied with the making of a new nature. Not pollen or seeds but plastic yellow tubes are used as the basic material of this new nature. He makes skeletons which are able to walk on the wind.

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. The art critics compare Jansen to Alexander Calder or Jean Tinguely. He sees himself rather in the tradition of Leonardo da Vinci.

The film depicts Jansen's open-mindedness, loneliness, his doubts and courage, his setbacks and ultimately, his visionary power.