British artist James Capper's remote-controlled sculpture shown at Art Basel Miami Beach could be used to film in inaccessible terrains (+ movie).

Capper's Mountaineer Prototype looks like a robotic insect, and moves on four hydraulic legs.

The prototype could be developed to create a vehicle for exploring mountainous terrain and filming in locations that are difficult to access on foot.

"It's half inspired by the earth-moving machines like cranes and things you see in the construction business, and also the anatomy of insects," Capper told Dezeen.

"In the last year or so, I've brought these large-scale installations down to a smaller scale so I can experiment with the movements they make," said Capper.

Presented in Miami by New York's Paul Kasmin Gallery, the design is part of the artist's Earth Marking series of kinetic works.

Using a panel of joysticks connected by wires to the Mountaineer's yellow body, Capper can manoeuvre its blue legs into different poses or make it walk slowly across the ground.

"It's got a remarkable amount of visual resting options," he said.

Two joysticks control each leg: one for the telescopic and steering functions at the top, and the other for moving the lower part of the limb.

"It's not a robot; it's not autonomous," Capper stressed.

The sculpture is one of 20 installed at Collins Park, in front of the Bass Museum as part of Art Basel Miami Beach's Public Sector programme.

Also for this year's Art Basel Miami Beach, which took place from 3 to 6 December 2015, Snarkitecture covered a private jet with a sky-blue ombre and Tobias Rehberger created pixellated pornographic images using colourful tiles.