The Thing

As long as I can remember I have had a fascination with Horror, I don't know where it comes from, but its there. I was watching horror films from the age of 10, and before that I just found myself always interested in anything strange and unusual. I once recall finding a dead bird in the back garden and wanting to keep it, strange yes, but its all part of nature which I was interested in at all levels and I guess there began my interest in taxidermy!

So, back to Horror. The post below of Goya's 'Saturn devouring his children' ties in with this interest, its so horrific and so nightmarish. Images like this (below) helped to instill fear and therefore devotion within the Catholic faith. Say your prayers or you'll burn in hell! all that rubbish. I want to elaborate on this, but I'll save it for future posts...

Goyas Black paintings

Taxidermy at Tring

These images were taken about a year ago in one of my favorite museums, which is in a village called Tring in Hertfordshire. Its an amazing natural history museum which my sisters and I were taken to many times when we were little, so as well as being inspirational for my work, its also a very nostalgic place for me to be.

I went back early this year as well as last, but havn't managed to get the photos I took then off of my sister, as I used her camera.

I am becoming more and more fascinated with taxidermy. That these once living things are now objects, gathering dust and shelved with other collectable objects. They're often pretty sinister looking, and when stuffed badly and given dodgy squint eyes, they become ridiculous. Its this strange unsettling feeling these things evoke that interests me.