sketchbook stuff...

Victorian Taxidermy.

Taxidermy is the reproduction of dead animals for display...although I actually find this disgusting, there's something about it which excites me, because they appear so life-like, whilst also looking a bit like a toy stuffed animal.

Anthropomorphism- Meaning the characteristics of a human combined with that of a non-human, such as an animal or other being. I hate when animals are dressed up, like in the circus, or when people dress their pets for their own pleasure, I think it's inhumane...though for some reason I'm attracted to the 'artistic' side of taxidermy, and I'm enjoying exploring it at the moment.

The Victorian and Edwardian times were very popular for Anthropomorphism taxidermy , displaying the taxidermy for amusement and entertainment, which unlike modern day, the exhibits appeared to be of popular interest. One of the most well known practitioner at the time was Walter Potter, his collections of humorous taxidermy were displayed in his museum known as 'Bramber's Museum', based in West Sussex.
Potter's centerpiece of the museum was his display of 98 stuffed birds,which was inspired by a book of stories. It's the combination of texture which I love the most about this artwork,and the detail in the props and scenery which gives the characteristics of a human environment.
On face value I find the images quite amusing, I don't actually think of them as cruelty to animals...but maybe if I saw them in real life, displayed inside a box, I may well have a different outlook.

All these images are by Walter Potter.

I've never really experimented with animation before, I just find it really interesting figuring out how they are produced, so I'm discovering it in my own way, trying out different approaches to see what works best. I've been given the advice to research the work of Brothers Quay, their animations relate closely the style in which I'm trying to achieve.
So I've been looking, and I actually love some of what they've created, it really reminds me of Tim Burton's work. What appeals to me the most is the silence of it all, as in the viewer can make their own assumption of the story it tells. I love the lighting of the films, it gives the impression of an outlandish scenario, as though we are watching a nightmare unravel itself.

Below is an animation created by The Quay Brothers. It fascinates me, there is so much detail involved, it makes me wonder how many frames were used to make a film which is so precise and so well structured...

An animation I recently created...