Taxidermy refers to the barbaric art of stuffing and mounting animal carcasses in lifelike positions of perverted preservation. Not perverted in a sexual sense, but a in ridiculous sense as the best way to preserve life is to ensure survival rather than collect slaughtered trophies for your own personal amusement. Hunting Trophies is a new collection featuring the most frequently used species in taxidermy, which is mainly deer and cats. Instead of being real taxidermied animals they are chests of modified Sony AIBO robodogs. As you approach the installation, the robots turn their heads in your direction, their eyes light up, and if you come too close, the robot suddenly growls. The closer you get, the more aggressive its behaviour. If you walk fast facing the wall of trophies, you’ll be met with more anger and protest.
“The idea of the Animal-Machine has long been overshadowed by the idea of a pain-feeling animal. Peter Singer argues that because animals have the ability to experience pain and suffering, they should be granted the same moral considerations as any other sentient being. Besides, these trophies raise new issues about the robots’ quality, function and integration into society: Are they different robots species? Rare species facing extinction? Are they the testimony of a future world where androids would be facing extinction? Or where they would have supplanted real animals such as in Philip K.Dick’s vision? Will we need a Susan Calvin, the robo-psychologist of Asimov’s novels?”
