The fire-breathing dragon-horse sparking wonder in a city near you | Frédette Lampre

Summary

Summary of "The Fire-Breathing Dragon-Horse Sparking Wonder in a City Near You" by Frédette Lampe

In this captivating episode of TED Talks Daily, artist and designer Frédette Lampe delves into the enchanting world of La Machine, a French street theater collective renowned for creating colossal, moving machines that transform urban landscapes and foster community engagement.

Introduction to La Machine

Frédette Lampe begins by painting a vivid picture of encountering a giant minotaur in a city setting:

"Imagine one day you are out for work in a city you live or you visit and suddenly you came face to face with a giant minotaur... He breathes, he cries, he growls" (02:50).

She explains that La Machine Company, founded by her colleague Francois de la Rosiere thirty years prior in Nantes, France, aims to create large-scale theater experiences through huge animated machines. These creations, such as fire-breathing sea dragons and slumbering minotaurs, serve not merely as entertainment but as storytelling mediums that reshape how people perceive their cities and each other.

Creation and Design Process

Lampe offers an insider’s view into the intricate process of bringing these mechanical marvels to life:

"First a drawing, then a model. The model is scanned to generate a digital wireframe... It takes around two years, from the design to the completion." (04:45).

The meticulous journey involves:

• Designing and modeling the creature.
• Scanning the model to create a digital framework.
• Crafting wooden shells for the exterior and constructing a metal skeleton with hydraulic and electrical systems.
• Coordinated construction efforts led by carpenters, followed by various skilled trades.

An ensemble of over 100 professionals, including welders, engineers, roboticists, and artists, collaborate in their formerly shipyard-based workshop to build these machines. The operation of each machine is a symphony of movement, requiring an average of 18 operators who control different parts via joysticks and exoskeletons, all guided by a director of operation who acts as the machine’s "soul."

Notable Projects and Their Impact

Lampe highlights several flagship projects that have left indelible marks on their respective cities:

• Sea Dragon of Calais: Commissioned in 2016, the Sea Dragon became a beloved symbol of Calais, "spitting fire, smoke coming out of his body" as it roamed the historic streets, fostering a sense of unity and pride among residents (06:30).

• Longma in Beijing and Ottawa: The dragon-horse, or Longma, performed in Beijing and later in Ottawa, where its presence was amplified by a giant spider on the roof of the cathedral. Lampe notes the overwhelming public response:

  "700,000 people came to see Long Ma and discovered a giant spider. Oh my God, they love it" (09:15).

  These performances are free and open to all, removing barriers to access and enhancing creativity and inclusivity within the urban environment.

• Liverpool’s Giant Spider: In Liverpool, a giant spider emerged overnight in front of the main train station, capturing the city's imagination and garnering global attention. Lampe emphasizes how such installations can improve a city's image and stimulate local economies through increased foot traffic to shops and restaurants.

• Minotaur in Toulouse: Presented to the mayor of Toulouse in 2013, the Minotaur serves as a bridge between the city's mythical past and its innovative future. This project underscores how cultural and historical narratives can be interwoven with modern urban planning.

La Machine’s Broader Influence

Beyond temporary street performances, La Machine extends its influence through permanent installations like Les Machines du Il in Nantes. This cultural facility supports urban regeneration by providing continuous moving exhibitions that attract both residents and tourists, thereby boosting the city's appeal.

Lampe articulates the philosophy behind these creations:

"Le machines are movement. The machines are not just art, not just entertainment. They tell stories, but also they bring motion and emotions together in every person from spaces and times." (10:50).

These machines are poetic figures that transcend mere functionality, embodying emotions and narratives that resonate across diverse audiences.

Economic and Social Benefits

Lampe underscores the economic advantages of La Machine's projects, which, despite being free, generate significant benefits for local businesses through increased patronage and extensive media coverage. The communal experience fosters a shared identity and pride, enhancing social cohesion within the city.

Conclusion: Artistic Intelligence and Urban Transformation

Frédette Lampe concludes by reflecting on the intelligent artistry that drives La Machine:

"We don't really use artificial intelligence, but we definitely use artistic intelligence to reimagine humanity." (11:50).

Through their gigantic street operas and moving exhibitions, La Machine not only entertains but also encourages cities to rethink their spaces and invites citizens to engage with their urban environments in novel and meaningful ways.

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Notable Quotes

• Frédette Lampe on Machine Creation:

  "First a drawing, then a model. The model is scanned to generate a digital wireframe... It takes around two years, from the design to the completion." (04:45)

• On Public Reception:

  "700,000 people came to see Long Ma and discovered a giant spider. Oh my God, they love it." (09:15)

• Philosophy of Movement and Emotion:

  "Le machines are movement. The machines are not just art, not just entertainment. They tell stories, but also they bring motion and emotions together in every person from spaces and times." (10:50)

• Artistic Intelligence:

  "We don't really use artificial intelligence, but we definitely use artistic intelligence to reimagine humanity." (11:50)

Final Thoughts

Frédette Lampe's talk illuminates the profound impact that large-scale artistic endeavors can have on urban spaces and communities. Through La Machine's imaginative and technically sophisticated machines, cities around the world are witnessing a renaissance of creativity, inclusivity, and economic vitality.

Transcript

[Elise Hu]

You're listening to TED Talks Daily where we bring you new ideas to spark your curiosity every day. I'm your host, Elise Hu. The most influential puppets in my life are actually Muppets, you know, from Sesame street or Kermit and Miss Piggy and their whole Jim Henson puppet universe. They evoke all kinds of feelings and nostalgia of childhood. In this talk, artist and designer Fredette Lampe, who is part of the French street theater collective La Machine, reflects on what it means to create and build giant moving machines, from fire breathing sea dragons to slumbering minotaurs. And why the kind of puppets she makes go way beyond entertainment. They can help reshape how people see their cities and one another.

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[Fredette Lampe]

Imagine one day you are out for work in a city you live or you visit and suddenly you came face to face with a giant minotaur. He's half Mouth half bull, his skin is made of wood. He is walking, galloping, rearing up. He opens and closes his blue eyes. He breathes, he cries, he growls. His arms can fend off traffic lights. An elf is asleep in front of the City hall. And people on their way to work hear the creature snoring. Amazing. As tall as building the city is a stage for him. And people are immersed in his world. Thirty years ago, my colleague Francois de la Rosiere, a designer art performer, founded La Machine Company. His aim, to create large theater experiences in cities. How? With huge animated machines. Since then, Francois, extraordinary machines appeared in streets, boulevards, avenues all over the world. These machines have no practical function at all. They tell stories for cities and their citizens. And they bring all communities together to create perhaps a new common ground. In 2016, the French port of Calais commissioned us a permanent art project. Two years later, the Sea Dragon appeared on the beach. He has two giant red rings and a long blue tail. And he started his delightful promenades around the historic streets of Calais, spitting fire, smoke coming out of his body. The Sea Dragon is now the new image of the city. I could say that he belongs to the city and is loved by everyone. Thank you. La Machine is based in Nantes, a French city on Atlantic coast of France. And our workshop is in a former shipyard where we now build the great elephant, the giant spider, the dragon horse, the Minotaur, the Sea Dragon and others. It's a permanent Beehive with over 100 different trades and crafts involved. In our staff we have welders, musicians, mechanics, comedians, sculptors, engineers, roboticists and so on. Perhaps you would like to know how we make it? First a drawing, then a model. The model is scanned to generate a digital wireframe. Then we made wooden shells for the skin of the animal, a metal structure for the skeleton, including hydraulic and electrical systems to bring the machine to life. Then the construction can begin. The carpenters lead the way and other trades follow on. It takes around two years, from the design to the completion. And then we are ready to operate a machine. An average of 18 operators drive the machine with joystick and exoskeletons. One person per arm and per legs. One operator for the head, another one for the neck, one person for the wings, one person for special effects, one person for the tail, one pilot for the truck, one guide and a director of operation. He is the soul of the machine. He gives technical but also emotional indications. All operators are connected to him with mics to make a realistic movement. Longuemar Longmate means dragon host in Chinese. Perhaps it's my favorite machines. Longma was commissioned by Beijing and then with this machine we perform in several cities in the world. In Ottawa, Longma was joined by a giant spider that we settled on the roof of the cathedral. Ottawa, the administrative capital of Canada, had a slogan at that Otawa is not boring. Of course not. 700,000 of people came to see Long Ma and discovered a giant spider. Oh my God, they love it. These shows are free. No tickets, no fences. It makes the city creative and inclusive. For people experiencing a giant moving machine in their neighborhood, it can change the way they see their own city. La Machine is not only about street performances. We also develop large scale spaces for ongoing moving exhibitions. In Nantes, our home city, we created Les Machines du Lille. Les Machine de l' Il is a cultural facility to support the urban regeneration program of the city. To make Nantes more attractive both for inhabitants and visitors. The cultural facility includes the great elephant who is walking every day on the old dock esplanade and next to it, the carousel of the SeaWorld with a living testimony to Jules Verne, who was born and grew up in Nantes. Why does machines are so special? Le machines are movement. The machines are not just art, not just entertainment. They tell stories, but also they bring motion and emotions together in every person from spaces and times. Our machines are poetic figures and poetry has no business plan. But even if our shows are free, they generate great benefits for shops, cafes, restaurants and huge free media coverage for cities. In Liverpool. One day, a giant spider appeared magically on a building in front of the main train station. Hundreds of thousands of people discovered the new face of Liverpool and this image went around the world. Some cities with the machine wish to improve their image, like Ottawa, Calais or Liverpool. Others chose urban planning issues like Nantes or Toulouse. Toulouse is in the south of France and we presented to the mayor of Toulouse in 2013, the Minotaur. Toulouse is the home of Aris, like Seattle is the home for Boeing. And we presented to the leader of aeronautics in Europe, an old and antique figure crazy to lose is an ancient city where myths and stories of bulls are central. And this city is like a labyrinth. The Minotaur makes the link between the past and the future. Last October, we created a new character, the Guardian of Darkness for the second part of the gigantic street opera. The Garden of Darkness is both a woman and a scorpion. And she is the alter ego of the Minotaur. In La Machine, we don't really use artificial intelligence, but we definitely use artistic intelligence to reimagine humanity. Thank you.

[Elise Hu]

That was Fredette Lamp at TED 2025. If you're curious about TED's curation, find out [e-mail] curationguidelines and that's it for today's show. TED Talks Daily is part of the TED Audio Collective. This episode was produced and edited by our team, Martha Estefanos, Oliver Friedman, Brian Greene, Lucy Little, Alejandra Salazar and Tonsika Sarmarnivon. It was mixed by Christopher Faizy Bogan. Additional support from Emma Tobner and Daniela Balaurazo. I'm Elise Hu. I'll be back tomorrow with a fresh idea for your feed. Thanks for listening. This episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. Do you ever think about switching insurance companies to see if you could save some cash? Progressive makes it easy. Just drop in some details about yourself and see if you're eligible to save money. When you bundle your home and auto policies. The process only takes minutes and it could mean hundreds more in your pocket. Visit progressive.com after this episode to see if you could save Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates. Potential savings will vary. Not available in all states.

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