Mounted Life. Stunning Taxidermy Photography By Danielle van Ark.

The Mounted Life is a series of photographs by Royal Academy of Arts graduate Danielle van Ark. She visited the storage and archives of museums around the world and found animals in surroundings and environments so far from their natural habitats she was struck by the inherent contrast and photographed them.

The series makes the most of the juxtaposition of wildlife and industrial imagery. The images are disturbing, funny, haunting, confrontational and even touching in their composition and subject matter.

























above images courtesy of Nowness, Danielle van Ark and Foam Editions

You can purchase some of the above prints at Foam Editions

Danielle van Ark graduated in 2005 from the Royal Academy of Arts in The Hague. Since then she has been living and working in New York and the Netherlands. The artist now wields backstage access to 33 museums across Europe and North America, and she aims to package the entire collection into a book.

See more of her work here.

Contact Info:
danielle@daniellevanark.com
NL +31 (0)6 28 25 45 78
US +1 917 374 2714
Studio:
Nieuw en Meer
Oude Haagseweg 131 achter
1066 BV Amsterdam

Real Road Kill Bracelets by Metalsmith, Jeweler and Taxidermist Lucy Jenkins.

One of the best uses of Road Kill I've ever seen. These unusual and surprisingly attractive bracelets were made by award-winning metalsmith/jeweler/taxidermist Lucy Jenkins.

The gold-plated and sterling silver Road Kill Fur bangles are lined with fur sourced from actual Road kill and engraved with the Latin name of the animal and the road from which it was sourced. The Road Kill Range attempts to create a new way of wearing ethical fur for aesthetic purposes.

Oryctolagus Cuniculus (rabbit), found on the A3052 - Gold Plate, Road Kill Rabbit Fur:




"NO ANIMALS WERE KILLED FOR THE PURPOSE OF THESE PIECES" is actually printed on the lid of the presentation box for the bracelets.


Lupus Americanus (hare), found on the B3212 - Gold Plate, Road Kill Hare Fur:



The above two bracelets were available for purchase at Luna and Curious but have been sold out.

Other bracelets from the range (not for sale):
Oryctolagus Cuniculus B3180 - Solid Silver, Road Kill Rabbit Fur:



images courtesy of the artist and Luna and Curious

Lucy Jenkins

Dead Animals Get Decorated By Sandra Musy.

above: Jane Doe #2, Unique piece (doe, green sequins, pins), 44cm x 39cm x 28cm

Sandra Musy: la nature vénéneuse was a recent exhibition featuring some seriously glamorous taxidermy -- sparkly stuffed animals of the real variety.

The artist, Sandra Musy, born in 1973, lives and works in Paris and creates in several mediums, one of which is, as you can see, taxidermy. This particular exhibit featured her wall-mounted deer heads and stuffed boars or pigs, ornately decorated with sequins.

The game trophy deer heads have the very clever names of John Doe and Jane Doe and are numbered. Her numbered sequined pigs are called Spider Cochon (or Spider Pigs) and they are a reference to The Simpsons.

The pieces shown below are available for purchase if not yet sold.

Jane Doe #1
Unique piece (doe, black sequins, pins), 44cm x 39cm x 28cm:


John Doe #1
Unique piece (roe deer, black sequins, pins), 50cm x 33cm x 28cm:


John Doe #2
Unique piece (roe deer, silver sequins, pins), 58cm x 38cm x 28cm:


Spidercochon #1 (SOLD)
Unique piece (young wild boar, green sequins, pins), 40cm x 20cm x 10cm:


Spidercochon #2
Unique piece (young wild boar, green sequins, pins), 44cm x 25cm x 14cm:


Spidercochon #3
Unique piece (young wild boar, black sequins, pins), 58cm x 32cm x 22cm:

all above photos courtesy of Arty Dandy


The exhibit was held at Arty Dandy from May 27, 2010- July 31, 2010 and the above pieces, if still available, can be purchased through them. Paris delivery offered, for shipping outside Paris, please contact them at contact@artydandy.com

The invitation to the show:


Soft Panic, an Electronica Psychedelic Pop artist named Wissam Hojeij in Paris, with John Doe #1 and Jane Doe #1, two of Sandra Musy's beautiful beasts:


Photos by Fred Lebain Photography

The Spidercochon below was from a previous show at Toast Gallery:


Sandra Musy's work is very difficult to find. She does not have a website, nor can I find the gallery that represents her, but you can view some of her other works here on Paris Art.

Sandra Musy is the second artist I've written about who uses stuffed dead pigs in her work.

To see the tattooed taxidermy of Wim Delvoye, go here.

Find books about taxidermy here.
Books on Wim Delvoye