He claims that the 'Strandbeest' can think for itself, by sensing dangers like storms, water and dry sand and changing direction or anchoring itself into the sand to preserve itself. However, does this count as 'feeling' or 'thinking'?
The main question is; what is alive? These creatures can move themselves, look after themselves and store energy for later use. They effectively have muscles and a brain. But they are completely man-made and inorganic.
I find them absolutely fascinating, and although their look reminds me very much of spiders and stick insects, they are in their own way beautiful.
I guess this is more of a moral and religious debate than an artistic one, but I think the ingenuity that Jansen has shown is astonishing. If creatures like this are being made now, what will we be capable of in the future?
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