Whether you think stuffed animals are cool, beautiful, or downright disturbing, this is taxidermy like you've never seen it before.
Darwin's Menagerie —
Whether you think stuffed animals are cool, beautiful, or downright disturbing, this is taxidermy like you've never seen it before.
Courtesy Fine Taxidermy
Ferry van Tongeren and Jaap Sinke are a pair of Dutch artists that use traditional taxidermy methods to produce flamboyant yet retro effects.
Darwin's Menagerie —
Ferry van Tongeren and Jaap Sinke are a pair of Dutch artists that use traditional taxidermy methods to produce flamboyant yet retro effects.
Courtesy Fine Taxidermy
They take taxidermy to a new level, incorporating a variety of techniques and approaches that are normally found in fine art.
Darwin's menagerie —
They take taxidermy to a new level, incorporating a variety of techniques and approaches that are normally found in fine art.
Courtesy Fine Taxidermy
Their work sells for between £2,000 ($3,130) and £25,000 ($39,200), and can be even more expensive for special commissions.
Darwin's Menagerie —
Their work sells for between £2,000 ($3,130) and £25,000 ($39,200), and can be even more expensive for special commissions.
Courtesy Fine Taxidermy
Although it draws upon traditional techniques and tropes, it subverts them, elevating the pieces to the level of true art.
Darwin's menagerie —
Although it draws upon traditional techniques and tropes, it subverts them, elevating the pieces to the level of true art.
Courtesy Fine Taxidermy
The pieces take on a statue-like quality, and are in many cases closer to sculpture than taxidermy.
Darwin's Menagerie —
The pieces take on a statue-like quality, and are in many cases closer to sculpture than taxidermy.
Courtesy Fine Taxidermy
They have also created a number of photographs of the animals' skins while they were being washed in chemicals.
Darwin's Menagerie —
They have also created a number of photographs of the animals' skins while they were being washed in chemicals.
Courtesy Fine Taxidermy
When the skin is suspended, it almost seems to be re-animated. This, they say, can create a particularly eerie, lifelike effect.
Darwin's Menagerie —
When the skin is suspended, it almost seems to be re-animated. This, they say, can create a particularly eerie, lifelike effect.
Courtesy Fine Taxidermy
Many of their pieces are birds, often with exceptionally bright plumage.
Darwin's menagerie —
Many of their pieces are birds, often with exceptionally bright plumage.
Courtesy Fine Taxidermy
The pair are attracted to exotic birds because of the vivid colors, which they view as an exquisite raw material.
Darwin's Menagerie —
The pair are attracted to exotic birds because of the vivid colors, which they view as an exquisite raw material.
Courtesy Fine Taxidermy
Van Tongeren points out the colors that naturally occur in the animal kingdom hold a vividness that is difficult to achieve even with modern paints.
Darwin's menagerie —
Van Tongeren points out the colors that naturally occur in the animal kingdom hold a vividness that is difficult to achieve even with modern paints.
Courtesy Fine Taxidermy
The Dutch duo has quickly gained a reputation for taxidermy of the finest quality, and they exhibit their work all over the world.
Darwin's menagerie —
The Dutch duo has quickly gained a reputation for taxidermy of the finest quality, and they exhibit their work all over the world.
Courtesy Fine Taxidermy
Some of the works have an unmistakably sinister aspect to them, though this never eclipses the artistic value, creativity, or sense of slightly subversive fun.
Darwin's Menagerie —
Some of the works have an unmistakably sinister aspect to them, though this never eclipses the artistic value, creativity, or sense of slightly subversive fun.
Courtesy Fine Taxidermy
A pawky humor is evident in much of their work, offering a wry take on 17th Century zoological habits.
Darwin's Menagerie —
A pawky humor is evident in much of their work, offering a wry take on 17th Century zoological habits.
Courtesy Fine Taxidermy
The duo has a "network" of breeders and zoos that contacts them when a rare bird dies, enabling them to gain material for their art.
Darwin's menagerie —
The duo has a "network" of breeders and zoos that contacts them when a rare bird dies, enabling them to gain material for their art.
Courtesy Fine Taxidermy
The creations are remarkably lifelike by comparison to the many substandard examples of taxidermy that abound today.
Darwin's menagerie —
The creations are remarkably lifelike by comparison to the many substandard examples of taxidermy that abound today.
Courtesy Fine Taxidermy
However, there is always something slightly quirky or unusual about the poses, making the artworks intriguing.
Darwin's menagerie —
However, there is always something slightly quirky or unusual about the poses, making the artworks intriguing.
Courtesy Fine Taxidermy
The pair does not only work with birds. This lemur catta is a striking example of the breadth of their work, which preserves the beauty of animals in a stylized way.
Darwin's menagerie —
The pair does not only work with birds. This lemur catta is a striking example of the breadth of their work, which preserves the beauty of animals in a stylized way.
Courtesy Fine Taxidermy
Although many have an aversion to the display of dead animals, for van Tongeren and Sinke it's simply about the beauty of nature.
Darwin's menagerie —
Although many have an aversion to the display of dead animals, for van Tongeren and Sinke it's simply about the beauty of nature.
Courtesy Fine Taxidermy
He argues that when animals die, it's a shame to waste their beautiful bodies when they could be transformed into exquisite pieces of art.
Darwin's menagerie —
He argues that when animals die, it's a shame to waste their beautiful bodies when they could be transformed into exquisite pieces of art.
Courtesy Fine Taxidermy
Moreover, the pair always make sure to treat the animals with respect, even if they do present them in eye-catching ways.
Darwin's menagerie —
Moreover, the pair always make sure to treat the animals with respect, even if they do present them in eye-catching ways.
Courtesy Fine Taxidermy
The reaction to the artists' work, which has been marketed for less than three years, has been hugely positive.
Darwin's menagerie —
The reaction to the artists' work, which has been marketed for less than three years, has been hugely positive.
Courtesy Fine Taxidermy
Many modern taxidermists rely on ready-made mannequins and other materials, which makes the process far quicker. However, the Dutch artists take the traditional, painstaking approach, because it delivers such superior results.
Darwin's menagerie —
Many modern taxidermists rely on ready-made mannequins and other materials, which makes the process far quicker. However, the Dutch artists take the traditional, painstaking approach, because it delivers such superior results.
Courtesy Fine Taxidermy
Their work explores the concepts of death and life, and beauty and ugliness.
Darwin's menagerie —
Their work explores the concepts of death and life, and beauty and ugliness.
Courtesy Fine Taxidermy
This wreath of snakes highlights the collision of lifelike taxidermy with a level of ironic contrivance that can be found only in death.
Darwin's Menagerie —
This wreath of snakes highlights the collision of lifelike taxidermy with a level of ironic contrivance that can be found only in death.
Courtesy Fine Taxidermy