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July 2019

By William Van Zyl – A long-form article (3900 words with several images). Will take about 23 to 28 minutes to read.

Introduction:

Overview:

Looking at the possible annihilation and extinction of animals, birds, insects, fish, and other animal life species on earth in a scientific, novel, and unique way. Futuristic. The intricate scientific details of ‘mechanica’ – animals on land, in the sky, and in the sea – which includes birds, butterflies, bees, fishes, snakes, and more, are explored. Specifically, the artificial eagle and the functional aspects of the eagle’s ‘mechanical, biological, and physiological systems’ are touched on. Aesthetics is also considered. The digital artwork of Lance Balchin – author and illustrator – are examined. His published book, Mechanica, includes a unique futuristic perspective of the animals as we know them. His illustrations of the Aquila Artificialis are explored.

The bird of prey – Aquila Artificialis (artificial eagle) – is the focus of this article and leads into deeper questions of maintenance, equilibrium, programming, and ultimately the balance of the species in the wider environment (e.g. the forest). Biodiversity is touched on. However, this article endeavours to look beyond the imagination of the great author, illustrator, and artist. Balchin’s brilliance is embraced. However, the author of this comparative article endeavours to grasp the aesthetics, the function, the pure science, the intricate design of the eagle, and consequently the design of all life on earth — contrasting, comparing and questioning along the way. The article is thought-provoking, colourful, and spectacular! Contrasting the organic with the synthetic.

Before the year 2200, the earth was teeming with life. Natural life. But, catastrophically, the earth’s environment has collapsed. The destructive weight of industrial pollution, irresponsible disposal of effluent, and uncontrolled radioactive waste have crushed all life on earth, as we know it. In the past, the land, sky, and oceans teemed with an abundance of life. Now, planet earth and its oceans are inhabited by weird mecahnica…

Machines reign supreme. Or do they? What reigns? And, you might ask, what is behind all of this?

It is the year 2200. Strange and sinister sounds fill the forests. Sounds never heard before. The flutter, stutter, and clutter of unknown flying objects fill the forest’s air. There is an eerie presence in the forest canopy. Red, green and yellow LED eyes are staring and moving. Not a single blink is visible. A small carburettor jerks and splutter; couching up high octane fuel. Some large veined leaves are moving. The sinister whiz-whiz of a small bird-like plane scares black ants up a tree as it passes; the zoom-zoom of a small screaming turbine engine is deafening. The chameleon places its front feet in its ears to shut the noise out. Its whole body vibrates violently on the thin branch. The back legs are holding on. The chameleon is hanging on for life. The heart-stopping cacophony of mechanica shocks the forest out of its deep sleep. The intruders have no emotion. They are cold and calculating. They don’t rest; they don’t blink.

The only movement in the forest is mechanical life. Engines, turbines, motors, tubes, bolts, nuts, rivets, steel, aluminium, stainless steel, strontium, jet fuel, pocket computers, all ingeniously arranged and fine-tuned by a new creator are moving, flying, and scattering in the once beautiful forest. They move with precision; some move at speed; some are digging frantically; some are flying aggressively. The sound of turbine and jet engines propelling birds, fusion loaded butterflies floats silently; the swoosh, swash of hydraulic pumps and the clanking of plastic tubes vibrating on cold metal, fills the serene and pristine forest air; acoustic sensors beep faintly, radar ears scan secretly, computers calculate phenomenally. Some mechanica get their solar power from the sun; batteries are recharged continuously; tiny micro wind turbines wizzes past; the microturbines spins and spins. A vibrating nuclear-powered propeller reminds of scenes of World War 3 – spinning at a devastating speed. The smell of rotten sulphur whiffed past. What?? Could that be strontium?

Some of the wildlife are flying, some are creeping, and many are digging and crawling. Many are hiding. A couple of animals are basking in the warm sun – recharging. Some are nervous; some are cold. However, they are focused – beeping. They aggressively co-exist…

‘Mechanica’ – Illustrated book published by Lance Balkin. The artificial eagle.

When illustrator Lance Balchin created the artificial eagle – inhabiting the earth by the year 2203 and beyond – he showed that many of the animals, birds, insects, snakes, fishes, and other species had become extinct. Man – or aliens – have created mechanical replicas of the species to replace the extinct natural species. Much smarter and more sophisticated, you might think. A large artificial eagle, weighing 7,9 kg, and flying at a top speed of 210 km per hour is an example of such a mechanical bird of prey.

Balchin – creative and gifted digital artist from Australia – created a futuristic story where mechanically designed species populate the earth. In his two award-winning books, Mechanica and Aquatica, which he published from 2016 onwards, show a novel and unique hybrid of digital art, electrics, electronics, hydraulics, turbines, nuclear propulsion, steel, cables, batteries, plastic, wood, and more. Some organic matter is included in his designs, like feathers, for example. Synthetic materials and human-made systems, as we know it, are installed into the new species. A well-equipped ‘workshop’ of Adobe Photoshop and a visionary mechanic and scientist are the genius of these creations. One has to view the art of Balchin’s visionary and future perception of such a weird and wonderful world to understand his extravagant innovative ideas. Lance explains that it takes about 70 hours, using Adobe Photoshop, to create one species….