Beastly Love: Thomas Hamberg

NAME: Thomas Hamberg
AGE: 27
OCCUPATION: Student of fine arts
LOCATION: Helsinki, Finland
TOTAL NUMBER OF TAXIDERMY PIECES: 30 plus insects and bones

1. What was your very first piece of taxidermy?  Very badly stuffed rat, it looks like dogpoo with fur.

2. Where do you find pieces for your collection?  From flea markets, antique stores and caragesales.

3. Where do you display your taxidermy?  All over in my tiny apartment, even kitchen.

4. How or when did you become interested in taxidermy? I have always been. When I was a child I collect things like insects and bones. That was start.

5. What do you think taxidermy is?  Art? Souvenir? Kitsch? Nature?  I think taxidermy is Memento Mori. It’s something which is dead but still alive. Of course it’s all those other things too. I think taxidermy can be all so handcraft, decorating element etc.

6. Do any pieces have names? Of course...Ralf, Mr. Fox, Martha...

7. Have you ever prepared a taxidermy mount?  Yes I have, it’s my new hobby.

8. Do you worry about displaying so much death... that is, do you ever get negative reactions to your collection?  I hear negative reactions all the time. “How you can keep all those dead animals in your home” -type of comments. I think the main reason is just death. People don’t want to see things which reminds about death. I think just death and this macabre “twist” in most taxidermy cases is the biggest turn on to me. There is something honest about these battered and old pieces. It makes me think a lot about the aesthetic part of mortality.

9. Why do you think taxidermy is back in fashion? Is it? I don’t know.

10.  If you were reincarnated as an animal, what would you be and why?  Hopefully a domestic animal...a dog maybe. Yeah, a Pug!

Comments

[pomposa]

A fine collection, attractively displayed.
“There is something honest about these battered and old pieces” - I couldn't agree more.