"Nanoq: Flat Out and Bluesome" was a recent catalogue and exhibition of taxidermy polar bears in the UK by artists Bryndis Snaebjornsdottir and Mark Wilson. The bears were documented and then removed from their status as educational tools in museums and colonial souvenirs in stately homes. The artists were able to liberate these dead bears from their cultural roles. The bears were placed in a communal limbo where the viewer was able to contemplate the history of man domineering nature. The viewer has an opportunity to consider the polar bears' current state as stuffed trophies, and their former role in the wild. The fate of the bears' dwindiling arctic environment is also called into question. Polar Bears are a beautiful and necessary arctic animal, and they command the title of world's largest living land carnivore. Please read more about the exhibition here and here. You can read about the book at Black Dog Publishing.
24.1.08
FLATOUT AND BLUESOME
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2 comments:
Just came upon your site through The Urban Naturalist, and after happily browsing through your older posts for about an hour, was delighted to discover our site is in your blogroll! Consider me another regular reader gained. This polar bear exhibition is pure poetry.
Cool! Thanks very much, "m." Is that a james bond reference? Some more polar bear stuff to come. I've got a particular thing for the arctic landscape, animals, and Admiral Peary. Cheers!
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