| Taxidermy Project, Lauren Davies, 2005 |
Created as a parallel to the history of taxidermy, "as if" references the humble beginnings of this art form when hunters took their trophies to furniture upholstery shops for stuffing. Fast forward to the present and although contemporary taxidermy may appear more life-like, it is actually less so. Riffing on the altogether curious history of taxidermy practices, "as if" creates a new spin on wild life displays - taxidermy completely without animals. Instead, domestic goods such as towels, fleecy blankets and upholstery supplies are combined with home construction materials such as polyurethane foam insulation, astro-turf and rubber, to serve as stand-ins for wild life presentations - as if all of this could possibly add up to a desirable way to experience the world in which we live.
|
|
|
