| Looking After, Lauren Davies, 2010 |
Looking After
presents a series of abstract, mixed media objects that visually
suggest the lumpy remains of scorched natural history specimens. These
odd objects are paired with brightly colored architectural elements
such as wall panels, carved molding, shelves and display pedestals. The
works weaves together a variety of personal interests: taxidermy,
dioramas and natural history displays; curating and collections; issues
of preservation, ownership and control over the natural world. The
title Looking After refers to the function of curators from a
previous era when the job required "looking after" collections of
everything from religious paintings and rare stamps to gem stones
and antique farm tools. Looking After presents carefully
crafted scenes of destruction and debris, to create a visual commentary
on real world chaos inflicted on the orderly environment of the
natural history museum. The 2008 fire that virtually destroyed
Deyrolle, the greatly beloved taxidermy emporium located in the heart
of Paris, was the inspiration for this project.
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