I am very much drawn to taxidermy in art. It gives me mixed feelings that keep me fascinated. I partly believe that it is a sacrilege to (ab)use animals for these artworks (comparable with wearing fur), but I am also attracted by the cuteness and/or sense of humor of these pieces.
Idiots (Afke Golsteijn, Ruben Taneja and Floris Bakker)
Maurizio Cattelan
Annette Messager
Now at Coda in Apeldoorn, The Netherlands: 'De aard van het beest, dieren als spiegel van de ziel', which translates as something like 'The nature of the beast, animals as a mirror to the soul'. The photo on the poster is from a work by Sylvia B.
And in case you feel inspired and come across some dead animals on the road today: 'Taxidermy 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.' (Wikipedia)
28 December 2009
Taxidermy art
06 December 2009
05 December 2009
Hildur Guðnadóttir and Fever Ray in Paradiso
Mysterious creatures hidden behind thick smoke.
Photos by hydraulix16aa and Jesper Frisk
16 November 2009
Magpie Studio
Magpie Studio created a sympathetic giant rabbit - painstakingly created in carrots - to promote printers Gavin Martin Associates conversion to eco-friendly vegetable inks. The postal tube, bright orange and covered in mud, worked as an appropriate precursor to the event.
14 November 2009
04 November 2009
Art Olive jong talent
A while ago I went to the Art Olive Jong Talent show in Amsterdam, which is an exhibition of work by selected graduates from Dutch art academies. I was most impressed by the 3D art. Below crochetted and handspun wool and wood objects by Jennifer Harkness.
Edwin Deen has designed the installation below. When a steam machine blurs a glass pane at intervals, a snow landscape becomes visible. Magical.
Art Olive
Josh Brill
These bird prints are for sale at Lumadessa. The text under the illustration is a phonetic transcription of the call of the bird - a nice touch!
24 October 2009
Camilla Engman
Illustrator Camilla Engman is inspiring on many levels. Firstly of course with her art. Then, her blog shows how she finds beauty everywhere. And finally, I want my home to look like her studio!
Camilla Engman + blog
Os Gemeos
Os Gêmeos (Portuguese for 'the twins') are twin brothers from São Paulo, whose real names are Otavio and Gustavo Pandolfo. They started painting graffiti in 1987 and gradually became a main influence in the local scene, helping to define Brazil's own style. Their work often features yellow-skinned characters – taken from the yellow tinge both of the twins have in their dreams – but is otherwise diverse and ranges from tags to complicated murals.
13 October 2009
26 September 2009
11 September 2009
Marjolijn Mandersloot
Marjolein Mandersloot confuses the viewer by making soft animals from hard metals.
Marjolijn Mandersloot
31 August 2009
26 August 2009
Music
The Mier Reports are a series of six reports printed on sugar paper using simple graphics to spice up the information contained within.
16 August 2009
The weird and wonderful world of Patrick Van Caeckenbergh
In the Bonnefantenmuseum in Maastricht I have found a book that introduced me to the work of Patrick van Caeckenbergh, a Belgian artist who creates his own mysterious world.
