10-07-09 Idea Post

The last two shoots I have done I have combined real animal materials with fake materials. This is something I want to investigate further especially when considering the preservation of death. Taxidermy, mummification, embalming, etc are all ways in which we try to preserve the living in an eternal state of 'what was.' While I had recognized it all along but never realized it pertained to my work, no preservation looks real. REALLY real (I mean). They use real materials and with the help of glues, chemicals, plastics, fabric, and even the right lighting always FAIL to preserve true life. Of course there are really great taxidermists, but think about the animals in the Smithsonian in Washington DC. I was impressed by the size, textures, colors, lights, surroundings, sounds, etc, but they still looked fake. This is an international museum we are talking about!


Well done taxidermy is breathtaking, don't get me wrong. I am much more interested in taxidermy that has a voice or has been altered in some way by the artist. Nate Hill (previous research artist blog) would be in this category. It's growing ever more popular to take two or more species and combine them into one new taxidermy creature.



Even more exciting is Merly Smith's "Excess Bagage," a piece she created for an exhibition when asked to make sculptures that were suited to be international carry-on luggage. This is not taxidermy. There are no real animal parts in this sculpture, but it certainly is convincing. Louis Vuitton has copyright issues with this piece.



Unfortunately, I couldn't find Smith's website (if there is one). I would have to say, if I were going to buy a Louis Vuitton bag, this $3,000 one would definitely be mine!

*** Wikipedia: ***

Taxidermy (from the Greek for classifying skins) is the act of mounting or reproducing dead animals for display (e.g. as hunting trophies) or for other sources of study. Taxidermy can be done on all species of animals including mammals, birds, nematodes, reptiles and amphibians. The methods that taxidermists practice have been improved over the last century, heightening taxidermic quality, and lowering toxicity. The animal is first skinned. This process is similar to removing the skin from a chicken prior to cooking. This can be accomplished without opening the body cavity so the taxidermist usually does not see internal organs or blood. The skin is tanned and then placed on a polyurethane form. Clay is used to install glass eyes. Forms and eyes are commercially available from a number of suppliers. If not, taxidermist carve or cast their own forms.

Taxidermists may practice professionally, for museums or as a business catering to hunters and fishermen, or as amateurs, such as hobbyists, hunters, and fishermen. To practice taxidermy, one must be very familiar with anatomy, sculpture, and painting, as well as tanning.