The Beach Animals Mortuary, a sensational exhibition that shows the evolution of the famous giant mobile animals created by Theo Jansen, will open in the Kabeldistrict Delft, beside the Shie canal, on 29th May. Beach Animals Mortuary is an initiative of Kabeldistrict and Jansen in collaboration with Museum Prinsenhof Delft.
The famous crawling beach creatures by Delft artist Theo Jansen travelled all over the world after their lives on the beach and were on display in museums in Japan, Australia, Argentina, China, France and the US, among others. The animals are the result of years of experimenting with materials and movement mechanisms. They are made of PVC pipes and uniquely combine art, science and technology.
In the exhibition you can follow Theo Jansen’s years of research into realising his dream: animals that can live independently on the beach. The extinct specimens are displayed as natural history objects, in chronological order. From the Gluton era (1990: the period of adhesive tape) to the Tenerium (2023-2024: the period of holding each other). The exhibition starts with the story of the origin of the Beach Animals in the workshop and ends with videos in which the animals can be seen alive.
A lively Delft city district will be built on the site of the former Dutch Cable Factory in the coming years, where living, working and staying are combined. There are plans for approximately 3,200 homes and 1,250 jobs in the area. Kabeldistrict, where innovation and experimentation are central, is the perfect setting for this special exhibition. In the enormous former Expedition Hall, visitors to the Strandbeesten Mortuarium will be surprised by the combination of art and technology.
The Strandbeest Mortuary is part of the programming of Museum Prinsenhof Delft during the period that the museum is closed due to the major renovation. Theo Jansen’s work was previously on display in the museum in the solo exhibition Universum Theo Jansen and during De KunstParade, the last exhibition before the renovation. Museum Prinsenhof is currently closed for major redevelopment and will re-open in 2027.
The Strandbeesten Mortuary can be visited on Thursdays from 29th May between 13:00 and 21:00 in the Kabeldistrict at Schieweg 15 in Delft. Admission is free.
