From animation to animals for ambitious artist

A Teesside University animation lecturer has re-trained as a taxidermist and now has her work on display at a popular museum exhibition.

Katherine O’Connor, Senior Lecturer in Computer Animation, is exhibiting Footnotes at Preston Hall.

Footnotes is a collection of birds, as well as a mouse and fly, which is on display among the permanent exhibition until 16 November.

Katherine became interested in taxidermy when recovering from an illness and after using it to inspire her art, decided to enrol on a course to practice the art form. She has since completed an MA Fine Art at Teesside University and Footnotes, her second public taxidermy exhibition, forms part of her final degree show.

'I really enjoy working with animals and putting this exhibition together has been inspirational,” explained Katherine.

'There is something extremely exciting about taking an animal which has died and making something with it that is more than it was when it was alive.'

Katherine is classed as a contemporary taxidermist – using the animals to convey a story or communicate messages.

With Footnotes, she has placed a scripture in each of the bird’s mouths to explore religious meaning.

'All of the scriptures are taken from revelations,” said Katherine.

'The work was a way of me exploring my own Christianity. The birds symbolise different things – the goldfinch represents the passion of Christ and the three pheasants symbolise the majesty of God.'

Katherine has taught animation for over ten years and although she still has a passion for the subject, she is keen to explore the art of contemporary taxidermy further.

She added: 'For now I think I will take a well-earned break but hopefully in the future I will be able to use taxidermy to inform my animation work.'

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