Reconstruction Of Contemporary Context Of Art In Animal Specimens

Animal specimens' production has a long history.The ancient Egyptians made cats,dogs,birds and other animals into animal mummies in order to protect them,but they were not considered as animal specimens.The true form of animal specimens is that animal fur covered in artificial fillers,mimicking or deviating from the way animals live,which can be traced back to the Victorian era.Ancient nobility displays exotic animal specimens at home showing off their wealth,scientists and explorers study and research newly discovered exotic creatures,which are the original meanings of animal specimens.For thousands of years,animal specimens,which were used as hunters' spoils,collectibles,and museum artifacts,have traditionally evolved among human' pride,symbolism,and the desire to commemorate the ruins of the lost land.The production of animal specimens is a traditional skill which was developed in the history of human recognizing nature,understanding living environment and the needs of living culture.It As a part of natural history,it was committed to the pursuit of lifelike realism.It reached its peak at the end of the 19th century,but fell out of favor in the 20th century.However,in recent years,the relevance of animal specimen production has been reawakened by contemporary artists again and is undergoing a highly controversial art and culture game.Firstly,by analyzing and studying the motivations of reawakening animal specimens in the contemporary context,this thesis suggests that animal specimens have become a wide-ranging cultural phenomenon in the professional field beyond natural history,reflecting the transformation of specimen science from science to art,and clarify the dialectical relationship between art and science.Secondly,through the case analysis of the use of animal specimens by four contemporary artists,like Damien Hirst,Mark Dion,Polly Morgan and Sarina Brewer,this thesis argues that animal specimens have emerged from the difficult predicament and returned as a popular art medium because of the constant exploration and courage of these artists.Finally,this thesis seeks to explore the value and significance of this medium in contemporary art and provide new creative ideas and strategies from three aspects called the diversity of animal specimens,the diversity of artistic expressions,and the differentiation of spatial expressions,as well as individual artistic creation practices.