The taxidermy discussion thread

[AnimalToyForum]

There are already the plasticizing travelling exhibits, where people (and animals) are injected with plastics, often after being opened, sectioned, or otherwise made visible internally. I havne't been in a place to see thes exhibits, but they are apparently very popular, and incredibly informative (although, of course, not without controversy).

As far as I know, most 'exhibits' are volunteers/donations or J Doe's. I can't imagine taxidermy would be much different.

The Body Works exhibition I mentioned is one such example. I saw it when it came to Dublin several years ago. Fascinating stuff, but with a strong focus on humal biology, especially internal anatomy, and the 'specimens' are obviously not meant to represent living individuals. They are plasticised and dissected. Taxidermy is different because it is a superficial representation of the living organism(s). Maybe the intention behind it is different.

[AnimalToyForum]

So like a real wax museum? I would hold no objection so long as the people agreed to it before they died, like organ donating, but skin donating.

Yeah. Sort of like Madame Tussauds but with a real person. 

[Dilopho]

I can stand some types of taxidermy.
I own a dried out starfish and some bugs in resin. That's the type I like.

But I have a fear of mannequins so the stuffed type freaks me out!

I recently went to an exhibition called Animals Inside Out by Bodyworlds- many animals such as elephants and bears and even a human taxidermied without skin. Absolutely incredibly, and absolutely terrifying too.

[brontodocus]

I recently went to an exhibition called Animals Inside Out by Bodyworlds- many animals such as elephants and bears and even a human taxidermied without skin. Absolutely incredibly, and absolutely terrifying too.

Oh, yes, Body Worlds - that's by Gunther von Hagens. Originally, the exhibits were exclusively human bodies. There is a lot of controversy about his exhibitions by the way.

[stargatedalek]

Are the actual organs preserved or are they partially recreated (like how fish are mounted)?

[Elephas Maximus]

With plastination, all organs are preserved. Except the eyeballs, which don't look 'alive' enough and usually changed to artificial eyes in finished specimens.

[Advicot]

I collect taxidermy and do my own. I do my own mainly because taxidermy is really expensive when you buy it. My only bought pieces are a pheasant and a black capped kingfisher.