Exploring Study Specimens
Study specimens are not the same as the posed taxidermy specimens one often sees in a museum. The preserved bird remains I have been studying have their skins, skulls and legs intact, but no eyes or armature inside, as they are not meant for public display. In this instance, scientific value is more important than aesthetic appeal, and yet they I find they still have a beautiful aesthetic. They are held in museums for research and scientific inquiry, and I am very privileged to have to opportunity to examine, measure and sketch these study specimens as a central part of my creative process. It is a rare opportunity to be able to examine the anatomy, and skulls, of the twenty five threatened and endangered bird specimens of the Logan region. Queensland Museum has been supporting my research as it intersects science, preservation, and art.
The oldest specimen I have studied so far dates to 1947. It is a window into the past, as well as an archive for current and future generations. Museums are invaluable spaces where art and science converge, where specimens of nature are both preserved and studied, and where we as artists can come to learn, question, and create. For my project, the museum’s collection of study specimens has been a profound resource.
As I continue to explore the collection of bird study specimens, I am working to translate their forms into something ‘other’. My goal is to capture their essence to create non-remnant specimens - taxidermy without the animal - to create a speculative archive to explore our relationship to nature. I’m using natural materials such as clay, raw cotton, and twigs, to reveal the complexity and beauty of the natural world in ways that are both scientific and artistic. Through my work, I aim to honor and explore the unique qualities of each of the twenty five birds by capturing their anatomy, and exploring their narratives.
In the end, these specimens remind me that my art is a way engage with the natural world in a way that brings its secrets, its histories, and its forms into the light. I’m excited to continue this journey of discovery and creation, finding new ways to reimagine the world through the lens of art and science, and display my findings at the Logan Art Gallery in July 2025.