Vegan Taxidermist

[thefadedone]

Warning this article is very graphic and contains pictures of deceased animals in various forms.

http://www.vice.com/read/if-its-dead-nicola-jayne-hebson-will-stuff-it

I just saw this article on Facebook. I am disgusted and horrified by this story. I find her views , attitude, and her "art" highly disturbing. I see nothing beautiful about stuffing something that was once a living creature. I see nothing creative about making an animal into a piece of art, jewelry , or fashion accessory. It doesn't matter how that animal died, their bodies should not be used for our own entertainment, hobby, or creative expression.

What do you think about it?

 

[Pickle Juice]

I'm scared to look. Vegan taxidermist seems like a contradiction in terms though.

 

[kazyeeqen]

What a weirdo.

 

[FortyTwo]

She is not a vegan taxidermist. She is a taxidermist who abides by a strict vegetarian diet.

 

[mlp]

I didn't click on the link.

I've had a negative emotional reaction to taxidermy all my life. Even while II was an omni, I walked out of places that had stuffed animals/animal heads on display.

I remember being surprised at the number of online veg*ns who thought that *art* exhibit of the flayed and preserved human bodies was cool.

 

[FortyTwo]

I didn't click on the link.

I've had a negative emotional reaction to taxidermy all my life. Even while II was an omni, I walked out of places that had stuffed animals/animal heads on display.

I remember being surprised at the number of online veg*ns who thought that *art* exhibit of the flayed and preserved human bodies was cool.

Which are you talking about? I remember there was a traveling museum exhibit made from bodies of people who donated themselves to science after death, which used preservation and whatnot for teaching purposes. Though it grosses me out, I have a hard time finding a problem with something totally consensual like that.

 

[mlp]

Body Worlds.

I know that the humans have donated their bodies. However, it's an *art* exhibit, not an educational one, judging from the poses, which include copulating couples. Also, they offer entire bodies, body parts, and slices (including slices of copulating couples) for sale to the general public. It's an entirely commercial endeavor, not an educational one.

And the animals they use certainly did not give their consent.

 

[ledboots]

Bodies: The Exhibition was even worse.

"Body Worlds" and "Bodies the Exhibition" Shows: Can China Accuse America of Human Rights Abuse?
Published: Wed June 25th, 2008
By: Greg Brian
Category: Opinion and Editorial
One of the most bizarre and haunting touring exhibitions in America is both the "Bodies World" and "Bodies...the Exhibition" shows displaying cadavers of unknown identity but said to come from China. The controversy is that there's emerging evidence these people (now having their stripped-down corpses in demonstrative poses they may not have ever done in life) could have been unknown prisoners in China who were tortured. Having the cadavers as completely unknown entities might make the exhibition more tolerable for some who may not want to put a name--or even familiarity--to a cadaver, especially if you know what that person did in their life. For others, it's the prospect of not knowing where these cadavers came from that's disturbing and forcing the imagination to work overtime if not giving the exhibit an aura of a macabre mystery in the minds of a few.The corporations who put this show on may have to worry a little now when the "Bodies...the Exhibition" show admitted recently that they didn't really know for sure if these cadavers were tortured prisoners from China. Now that these shows have profited exponentially in the last few years, it has to make you wonder why they're just now revealing this. Despite the unsure statement from its producer, Premier Exhibitions, people who are offended by the new prospects will be able to get refunds if they so choose. Of course, there will be counterchallenges to that statement, probably from the man who came up with the idea for the show and preserved the bodies through his own innovative plastination process: Dr. Gunther von Hagens.Beyond that, though, we may start hearing from China, particularly during the Beijing Olympics, who may use this exhibit as a counterargument against America who's accusing them of human rights abuse against Tibetans. That may end up being a given, especially when the "Bodies" exhibits will now be forced to put a disclaimer on their shows that they aren't sure whether the bodies you'll see were tortured in Chinese prisons. The shows say that they check for any signs of torture on the bodies, but usually can't find the evidence that there was any.For many people, that won't eliminate the possibility of torture, particularly because you can't always see evidence of that physically on a cadaver. " continues http://m.voices.yahoo.com/tampas-mosi-bodies-exhibit-educational-obscene-11140.html

 

[thefadedone]

I didn't click on the link.

I've had a negative emotional reaction to taxidermy all my life. Even while II was an omni, I walked out of places that had stuffed animals/animal heads on display.

I remember being surprised at the number of online veg*ns who thought that *art* exhibit of the flayed and preserved human bodies was cool.

Same here.

A couple of years ago I was on vacation in a town that was popular because of their hunting and fishing location. The whole area sounded like a nightmare until I discovered a vegan friendly, dog friendly cafe/coffeehouse. The place sounded amazing especially in a place where the rest of the restaurants mainly served fish and deer meals. This vegan friendly cafe was going to be my haven! Well, at least that was the plan until I walked into the place. The walls were decorated with animal fur/pelts, mounted animal heads, and there were stuffed animals all over the cafe. Walked right out after seeing that. I did a lot of walking in and walking right out at a lot of places in that town. Also did a lot of driving to other towns nearby that weren't taxidermy obsessed.

 

[Moll Flanders]

I was going to get one of my tattoos redone and I went into a tattoo parlour and they had lots of stuffed dead animals in there presumably because they thought it looked edgy and cool or something. I went to another place instead after I saw that.

What a weirdo.

Exactly!

 

[Pickle Juice]

Bodies: The Exhibition was even worse.

"Body Worlds" and "Bodies the Exhibition" Shows: Can China Accuse America of Human Rights Abuse?
Published: Wed June 25th, 2008
By: Greg Brian
Category: Opinion and Editorial
One of the most bizarre and haunting touring exhibitions in America is both the "Bodies World" and "Bodies...the Exhibition" shows displaying cadavers of unknown identity but said to come from China. The controversy is that there's emerging evidence these people (now having their stripped-down corpses in demonstrative poses they may not have ever done in life) could have been unknown prisoners in China who were tortured. Having the cadavers as completely unknown entities might make the exhibition more tolerable for some who may not want to put a name--or even familiarity--to a cadaver, especially if you know what that person did in their life. For others, it's the prospect of not knowing where these cadavers came from that's disturbing and forcing the imagination to work overtime if not giving the exhibit an aura of a macabre mystery in the minds of a few.The corporations who put this show on may have to worry a little now when the "Bodies...the Exhibition" show admitted recently that they didn't really know for sure if these cadavers were tortured prisoners from China. Now that these shows have profited exponentially in the last few years, it has to make you wonder why they're just now revealing this. Despite the unsure statement from its producer, Premier Exhibitions, people who are offended by the new prospects will be able to get refunds if they so choose. Of course, there will be counterchallenges to that statement, probably from the man who came up with the idea for the show and preserved the bodies through his own innovative plastination process: Dr. Gunther von Hagens.Beyond that, though, we may start hearing from China, particularly during the Beijing Olympics, who may use this exhibit as a counterargument against America who's accusing them of human rights abuse against Tibetans. That may end up being a given, especially when the "Bodies" exhibits will now be forced to put a disclaimer on their shows that they aren't sure whether the bodies you'll see were tortured in Chinese prisons. The shows say that they check for any signs of torture on the bodies, but usually can't find the evidence that there was any.For many people, that won't eliminate the possibility of torture, particularly because you can't always see evidence of that physically on a cadaver. " continues http://m.voices.yahoo.com/tampas-mosi-bodies-exhibit-educational-obscene-11140.html

I hadn't heard of this. That is truly revolting.

 

[mary1]

They had Body Worlds in Vancouver where I used to live. I didn't see anything wrong with it though I never went as I didn't want to pay the fee (broke). But then, I bought the line that they were all volunteers. It's creepy to be sure, but I thought it was educational.

After reading these posts, I'm more skeptical.

The Chinese government is known to profit off their prisoners. It's really horrible.

 

[FortyTwo]

Eugh. I don't remember if the one I'm thinking of was one of those ones. It wasn't an art show at all, but if they can get away with stuff like that in art shows, who knows about science ones?