Theo Jansen’s Strandbeests (Beach Beasts) are internationally renowned and valued.
As Jansen often uses The Hague beach to experiment with his automobile creatures they have become iconic of The Hague as well.
The strange thing is that too few people in this provincial town seem to realize that.
Why should culturally interested tourists in The Hague flock to M.C. Escher while there is a Strandbeest by Theo Jansen currently on show at Heden gallery?
Why should Karel Appel be a national artistic hero while Theo Jansen could be one as well?
Apart from the Strandbeest there is more on show at Heden.
In fact Heden wants to exhibit Jansen’s drawings in the first place, but of course the real thing is stealing the show.
The drawings with their surprisingly elegant detailing are very interesting though.
In the basement of the gallery are some “fossils” of Beach Beasts to be seen, which makes it a bit of a paleontological affair.
To be seen are of course other Jansenalia like the Taschen edition Strandbeest with gorgeous pictures and mini-d.i.y.-strandbeesten.
[Click on the pictures to enlarge]
Bertus Pieters
Villa Next Door 