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This week in the magazine, Ian Frazier writes about Theo Jansen, a Dutch artist who makes kinetic sculptures that walk on the beach called Strandbeests. In this video, with footage by the filmmaker Alexander Schlichter, Frazier discusses these wind-powered sculptures and how they fit into the tradition of Dutch landscapes.

Having discovered and been enthralled by Theo Jansen's 'new lifeforms', I couldn't resist putting up this 2007 TED Talk to share these amazing beasts. From the TED site: "Artist Theo Jansen demonstrates the amazingly lifelike kinetic sculptures he builds from plastic tubes and lemonade bottles. His creatures are designed to move -- and even survive -- on their own." "Dutch artist Theo Jansen has been working for 16 years to create sculptures that move on their own in eerily lifelike ways. Each generation of his "Strandbeests" is subject to the forces of evolution, with successful forms moving forward into new designs. Jansen's vision and long-term commitment to his wooden menagerie is as fascinating to observe as the beasts themselves. His newest creatures walk without assistance on the beaches of Holland, powered by wind, captured by gossamer wings that flap and pump air into old lemonade bottles that in turn power the creatures' many plastic spindly legs. The walking sculptures look alive as they move, each leg articulating in such a way that the body is steady and level. They even incorporate primitive logic gates that are used to reverse the machine's direction if it senses dangerous water or loose sand where it might get stuck." Visit www.ted.com to see more TED Talks TED Talks are issued under a Creative Commons license creativecommons.org