We spent last Thursday evening in Shoreditch sipping cold drinks
as the summer slipped away to night and looking at... well... dead
animals. Pitfield London were hosting the private view of their latest
summer show - a taxidermy showcase by Kim Zoe Wagner.
Enclosed in symmetrical, square frames and mounted against brightly patterned backdrops, an array of birds create a stunning and entrancing wall display. The contrasting shades of zingy yellow and orange canaries, stuffed and pinned against comparatively muted floral prints, is an amusing context for taxidermy display. Continuing the bird-life theme of the last installation, artist Louise West’s ‘Common Birds’, Kim's birds are caged and protected in their frames as if to prevent them from taking flight. The little sculptural, wall pieces work in combination with larger free-standing, ornamental birds who perch on chairs and cushions, surveying the show.
Kim is a trained taxidermist who works to order and is one of few certified taxidermists who create cruelty-free taxidermy - none of the animals Kim uses have been killed for the purpose of taxidermy. Working to her own, ethical concerns with a technically precise hand and an added touch of humour has allowed her to develop an individual and intriguing practice.
Enclosed in symmetrical, square frames and mounted against brightly patterned backdrops, an array of birds create a stunning and entrancing wall display. The contrasting shades of zingy yellow and orange canaries, stuffed and pinned against comparatively muted floral prints, is an amusing context for taxidermy display. Continuing the bird-life theme of the last installation, artist Louise West’s ‘Common Birds’, Kim's birds are caged and protected in their frames as if to prevent them from taking flight. The little sculptural, wall pieces work in combination with larger free-standing, ornamental birds who perch on chairs and cushions, surveying the show.
Kim is a trained taxidermist who works to order and is one of few certified taxidermists who create cruelty-free taxidermy - none of the animals Kim uses have been killed for the purpose of taxidermy. Working to her own, ethical concerns with a technically precise hand and an added touch of humour has allowed her to develop an individual and intriguing practice.
All work is for sale exclusively from Pitfield London.
