Animal Farmatures

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Animal Farmatures

Firm

As a human/machine/animal hybrid, the “iron horse” locomotive captured
the imagination of Americans during the middle of the 19th century by
subjugating the pastoral landscape to the ingenuity of human invention.
In addition to “conquering space and time,” the train was a new viewing
mechanism that transformed the environment into a moving picture show
through isolation, speed and framing. Today we have come full circle.
Threading high-speed rail through the fabric of the American Midwest
stands to recover the demand for mixing humans, commerce, technology and
the rural landscape in new spectacular combinations. Which poses the
question: what are the techno-natural hybrids that will capture the
imagination of today’s rail riders?
Animal Farmatures are dual natured farm implements that simultaneously
cultivate farmland and entertain high-speed rail customers. The
animatronic appliances explore the world’s largest free-range zoological
garden while digitally connected riders rush along rails through the
heartland of America. Attentive audiences watch in captivity while the
Farmatures complete traditional farm tasks in combination with grand
rural-techno spectacles. The robotic performers extend the tradition of
machines using and mimicking animals for moving, operating, branding and
processing food crops while creating a majestic (re)constructed terrain
of roaming beasts. They return to their docking stable for the night
after a long day of foraging, weary from their performance. Stationed
alongside the organic based cows, sheep and horses, the proud ringmaster
farmers tend their flock and prepare them for the next crop.