The Mechanical Blog

Opening on Saturday 23rd February at the spectacular phaeno Science Centre in Wolfsburg, Germany, this exhibition promises to be one of the best kinetic sculpture exhibitions in recent years.

Spread over 10,000 square feet in Zaha Hadid’s acclaimed new building, more than 70 exhibits will come to life and share their stories. The works include 40 from Cabaret Mechanical Theatre as well as 18 from Arthur Ganson (this will be his biggest ever exhibition outside of his native USA), Sharmanka Kinetic Theatre will provide a large scale theatrical element with Eduard Bersudsky’s awe-inspiring machines and American artist Norman Tuck, maker of artistic science machines will complete the show.

Wolfsburg is an hour from Berlin by the ICE train, there is a very frequent service, (and phaeno is a few minutes from the station). You can even book your train ticket online here.

One the highlights of our summer here in London was the visit by the magical French Street Theatre company Royal De Luxe and their street spectacle The Sultan’s Elephant. It was an extraordinary experience for everyone who saw it, and just looking at the images again still sends shivers down my spine.

The enormous mechanical elephant walked through the streets of London, (traffic lights and street furniture had been removed just so that it could get around) accompanied by the time travelling little girl, who arrived in a rocket early one morning.

If you can make it to the Jours de Fete in Calais 28th Sept - 1st Oct, France you can re-live the experience. Thoroughly recommended.