François Delarozière and the theatrical puppet collective La Machine recently presented their new stunning creation: a nearly 50-foot-tall robotic Minotaur made of unpainted lime tree wood and metal. The mythical beast was created for “Le Gardien du Temple” (The Guardian of the Temple) show in Toulouse, France.
The Minotaur along with an impressive 42-foot-tall spider named Ariadne, that was constructed over the course of two years by a group of around 60 people, roamed the labyrinthine streets of Toulouse as part of the immersive art exhibition.
“Le Gardien du Temple” performance aimed to reinterpret one of the most fascinating myths of ancient Greece, the myth of Theseus and the Minotaur. In Greek mythology, the Minotaur, known by the name Astérion, was a creature that was half bull and half man. The monster is said to have lived in the center of a maze on the island of Crete in Greece.
After the performance, the two massive robotic puppets took their place in a newly opened exhibit space in a neighborhood that the city of Toulouse is trying to revive.
“The advantage for us is to create a cultural event and offer something extraordinary… never seen here before and add this to the palette of Toulouse culture, which is already quite varied, quite rich,” the mayor of Toulouse, Jean-Luc Moudenc, shared with AFP news agency. “This is both for Toulouse residents, people of the region and also a great pretext to invite visitors and tourists here.”