German artist Thomas Grünfeld’s 'Misfits' collection are animal collages, actual taxidermal specimens that have been deliberately mismatched. These are as improbable pairings and may give us a sense of the reactions the platypus must have provoked when it was first encountered.
The pairings are bizarre. A parrot-squirrel, a bull-ostrich, giraffe-ostrich, calf-deer, dog-deer, pig-bird, deer-giraffe are but some of them. Perhaps the artist is trying to make a statement of where unorthodox cloning might lead to?
Hybrid Taxidermy
Misfits by Thomas Grunfeld
Trend Themes
1. Hybrid Taxidermy - Opportunity for artists and taxidermists to explore new forms of creative expression by combining different animal specimens in unconventional ways.
Industry Implications
1. Art and Design - The art world could embrace hybrid taxidermy as a disruptive innovation that challenges traditional notions of taxidermy and pushes the boundaries of artistic expression.
2. Animal Conservation - The field of animal conservation could explore the ethical implications of creating hybrid taxidermy specimens and how it could influence public perceptions of endangered species.
3. Museum and Exhibition - Museums and exhibitions could use hybrid taxidermy as an innovative way to engage audiences and provoke conversations about our relationship with animals and the boundaries of scientific exploration.