An inside look into the world of taxidermy and the passionate artists from all over the world who work on the animals.
Every day on the way to the subway I walk past a taxidermy shop which displays huge bears, deer, birds and other animals in its window. I’ve never gone inside but only taken a peek because for some reason, being that close to something ten times my size, dead or alive, is not the most comfortable situation for me. I have so many questions that I’ve never asked the shop owner like: where does he get the animals from? Were they purposely hunted? Did they accidentally die or were they roadkill? And most importantly, what is his specific process to get a dead bear to look so vibrant and alive again? Lucky for me, all of my questions were answered in this film.
This documentary follows several taxidermists whose love and obsession with science, art and nature is the core reason they desire to preserve these animals. Contrary to what I believed before watching this film, taxidermy is not merely the act of cutting an animal open and stuffing it. The creations tell real stories that hopefully inspire and touch others. In order to create these amazing pieces of art, you must know animals and their habitat on an intimate level. Being close to nature, studying animals at close range helps you understand their natural body movements and expressions which is necessary for sculpting a life-like replica.
While taxidermy can be traced back to ancient Egypt when people and animals were mummified, it has never become mainstream or considered an art form, mainly because it is centered around death and many people are not able to grasp the preservation of wildlife, as it has always been appreciated throughout history and is actually very beautiful. As I watch these amazing artists work meticulously from start to finish, I am in awe of the amount of skill, time and extensive knowledge of science involved, it really is mind-blowing. I was surprised to find that like any other art form, there are competitions and awards for the best taxidermy masterpiece. Some of the artists admit to actually using the competition as a way of improving their works as they take the judges’ critiques very serious.
I will forever think of animals in a whole new light after seeing this documentary. It was beautifully constructed and displayed such high respect and love for animals in addition to the intricate craftsmanship that goes into creating work of art. I was excited to find out that the majority of the animals were either accidentally killed or died of natural causes. So the idea that taxidermists hate animals or kill them for pleasure is absolutely ludicrous. I think the level of science and artistry it takes to recreate a lifelike masterpiece is extraordinary. This is such a fun, educational documentary that completely exceeded my expectations and I think the next t time I walk past that shop I will go inside and impress the owner with my new-found knowledge and ask him which are his favorite pieces and why.
Opens Wednesday, October 16th at the Film Forum in New York and in select theaters nationwide
