I remember my first encounter with stuffed animals when I was a kid – it was in grade 3, when the windowsill of my classroom all of a sudden held a stuffed alligator shortly after Spring break. I remember going up to it and running my finger up and down its back and being fascinated with how realistic it looked.

When I heard that the Museum of Vancouver’s newest exhibit was Ravishing Beasts, an eclectic collection of about 110 species, I had to check it out.

Displaying the Museum of Vancouver’s extensive collection of taxidermy for the first time in decades, Ravishing Beasts investigates the provocative and strangely alluring world of taxidermy.

Whether a hoarding of exotic curiosities, a scientific archive, a hunting trophy, or a stuffed pet, taxidermy always exposes longings to capture animals and tell stories about their significance within human lives.

The exhibition confronts viewers with the visual power of taxidermy. It invites us to examine taxidermy’s cultural aesthetic, scientific history, and revival in art and design, and to question the legacy, current value, and future relevance of the practice.

There was a disclaimer at the front of the exhibit warning that some of the pieces might offend – like this strange creation called a jackalope.

Seeing a lot of these animals up close – it gives great perspective to how large (or small) some of these creatures are. You get to see sides of them that you can’t see on a tv screen or through the bars of a zoo enclosure – it’s amazing really.

I liked all of the exhibits but the tiger rug complete with tiger head was a bit unnerving – seems a bit cruel when displayed that way. The butterflies on the other hand, were gorgeous.

I want a curio cabinet like this! If I had an apartment/house with a large entryway I would put it right at the front and display all the treasures from my travels.

There were also all sorts of creatures in glass jars with various liquids in them – I’m guessing formaldehyde? It was hard to tell what most of them were.

This is like a scene from a horror film.

This big guy was at the end of the exhibit and was he ever huge – I never realized how massive they were until I was standing right next to one.

If you get the chance, definitely check this exhibit out. It’s running until the end of February. From the MOV website: *No animals were harmed for this exhibition. Most of the taxidermy that will be on exhibit is from the Museum’s own collection and was acquired primarily between 1894 and 1950 from Vancouver residents.

Museum of Vancouver
http://www.museumofvancouver.ca
1100 Chestnut Street (Vanier Park)

Tues – Sun: 10 am – 5 pm
Thurs: 10 am – 8 pm
Mon: Closed
(604) 736-4431