Hellfest 2024 unveils fire-breathing mechanical scorpion-woman, The Guardian of Darkness

Two years on from unveiling their colossal 15-metre Lemmy sculpture, French rock and metal extravaganza Hellfest has unveiled its latest jaw-dropping installation, La Gardienne des Ténèbres (The Guardian of Darkness).

Located at the Kingdom of Muscadet area of the Hellfest site in Clisson, France, the 10-metre high mechanical creature is part scorpion and part devil woman.

As well as moving its face and entire body, including its scorpion tail and eight legs, The Guardian of Darkness breathes fire, water and steam from its mouth.

The “mind-blowing” Guardian of Darkness installation was designed by François Delarozière of Nantes-based production company La Machine.

Describing La Gardienne des Ténèbres, the company writes on their website: ‘Made of wood and steel, she moves on eight legs, adopting a gait between a crab and a spider. All its limbs are articulated. Its head and chest swivel, tilt, swing from right to left and up and down. Its mouth and stinger spit fire, water in various forms and smoke. It can bite. Its eyes, eyelids and tongue contribute to its expressiveness. Its prehensile hands allow it to grasp various objects. It can walk, run, rears up, lie down to come to the height of the public or slip under urban furniture such as bridges or tram lines.

‘Numerous scars, scarifications and esoteric symbols mark her body, like the stigmata of a rich and eventful past life. Its steel skeleton is set in motion by numerous hydraulic and pneumatic cylinders and automated electric motors. A load-bearing chassis ensures its steering, propulsion and lifting. An on-board sound system allows music to be played and the screams and yelps of the Guardian to be heard.’

See photos of The Guardian of Darkness at Hellfest:

Delarozière and La Machine previously created the 50-foot mechanical spider La Princesse, which was installed on a building near Lime Street in Liverpool in September 2008 as part of the city's European Capital of Culture celebrations.

The four-day Hellfest kicked off last night (27th June) with performances from the likes of Avenged Sevenfold, Megadeth, and Kerry King.

Other bands performing across the weekend include Metallica, Foo Fighters, The Prodigy, Saxon, Bruce Dickinson, Tom Morello, Extreme, Queens of the Stone Age, Steel Panther and Corey Taylor.

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