Photo via GETTY.
Oh, Artichoke and La Machine, how do we love thee? Let us count the ways. First, you brought the Sultan’s Elephant and the Little Girl Giant to London. And at this very moment, to the delight and terror of all, you’ve set a 50 foot-high, 37 ton mechanical spider rampaging through the streets of Liverpool. Incredible.
Despite being mortally afraid of arachnids, I wish more than anything that I could be there right now to see “La Princesse” coming to life. I’m sure many of you do as well. Is any of our UK readership getting a chance to witness this? Please, drop us a line!
Photo by Exacta2a via their wonderful Flickrstream.
September 5th, 2008 at 8:21 pm
The creature clinging to building aspect of this reminds me of the wonderfully creepy sunken faced babies on this television tower in Prague.
September 6th, 2008 at 2:50 am
CHRIST.
BALLS.
That’s the most incredible and terrifying thing I’ve ever seen.
September 6th, 2008 at 4:26 am
At first I thought it was a photoshopped image of a spider on a building. Then I read the whole entry and Im astounded yet completely petrified at once. I dont think I could move from my seat just yet. Wow.
September 6th, 2008 at 8:06 am
I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoy reading your blog. I recently received my copy of Coilhouse Magazine in the mail! AMAZING!!! Thanks!
Warm Regards,
xo Lavona
September 6th, 2008 at 9:54 am
Aww, thanks, Lavona! So glad you’re enjoying all of it. And guess what? The next issue will be on its way before you know it! Hooray!
September 6th, 2008 at 10:09 am
I’ve already had nightmares abouty this bloody thing, i hate spiders.
I live in the UK and from an Art point of view it’s amazing, but i don’t plan to go and see it. The pictures are quiet enough.
I got my Coilhouse too and it’s amazing, i love the sheer volume of photographic content. When is the next issue out? :P
x
September 6th, 2008 at 11:22 am
Unfortunately I’m too far south to watch this baby: a great shame as I’m an avid arachnophile (and, indeed, a former entomologist).
However, I ~did~ see the Sultan’s elephant and it was the most spectacular sight I’d ever seen walking through the street of London. The engineering let alone the stunning puppetry was superb.
Oh and thank you for my copy of Coilhouse - it’s as wonderful as I’d hoped. Please keep them coming!
Secxx
September 7th, 2008 at 3:26 am
youtube provides the goods once again! you can get a glimpse of the spider in action
September 7th, 2008 at 11:07 pm
She is so beautiful! Sometimes I really do wish something this amazing happened in the US, or even if I could go off to these places were the magic happens ;)
More wonders from A & LM; things like this are so wonderful to see.
September 8th, 2008 at 9:00 am
Countless Anime becomes reality.
September 8th, 2008 at 10:05 am
” Sweet mystery of life, at last I’ve found yoooouuuu!”
In the cricket-ridden late August nights, these rust brown, fiddler crab sized arachnids would spin fishing line taught webs from tree to tree in the backyard of my parent’s house. It behooved one to venture out with a flashlight, lest an unsuspecting soul waltzed face first into one of those expansive, unseen death traps.
I suppose I’m just in that “mood”.
Seriously, that is one truly extraordinary critter contraption. Artichoke & La Machine have floored me once again.
She’s like something out of a Shirow Masamune illustration, particularly with the urban setting.
September 8th, 2008 at 10:31 am
[...] BBC News. (h/t Coilhouse); La Machine website (more great photos by Matthew Andrews [...]
September 8th, 2008 at 10:53 am
I was there on Friday and Sunday to see this creature “come to life” and it was truly amazing! The movement was so arachnid- like and spot on. I could never begin to understand how it was created or the technicalities but it was beautiful to see it moving amidst water cannon, snow and fire explosions. Street theatre at its finest!! I feel truly proud to live near Liverpool! (keep up the good work: coilhouse is one of my favourite places on the net!)
September 9th, 2008 at 1:06 am
I too am in Liverpool and went to see La Princess, it’s a beautiful piece of engineering, but as with all things Capital of Culture ‘08 was over hyped I think.
I was slightly disappointed it was driven at 2 miles an hour by a fork lift…
I was hoping for more stomping spider action with death and screaming!
It did look amazing though, an immense sculptural achievement - so congratulations to Artichoke.
More photos can be found on my flickr