Zoologica

An exhibition about life, death, memory and the scientific method.

Since 2014 · Kaori Gallery (2014); CSIRO Discovery (2017)

Archival inkjet prints on Canson Baryta Photographique Rag, printed by Stephen Best, Macquarie Editions, Braidwood

Zoologica V

Zoologica: a heap of dried starfish, their ridged arms interlocking, in cool blue-toned black and white.

Zoologica I

Zoologica: the comb-like ribs of a specimen crossed by dark, curved spines.

Zoologica II

Zoologica: the head of a white bird specimen, feathers splayed around a closed eye.

Zoologica III

Zoologica: a preserved specimen with a folded, brain-like surface, hanging against black.

Zoologica IV

Zoologica: extreme close-up of fine hairs on a specimen's surface.

Zoologica VI

Zoologica: extreme close-up of a large dark eye in a furred specimen's face.

Zoologica VII

Zoologica: a preserved bird with a handwritten museum tag tied to its feet.

Zoologica VIII

Zoologica: looking into the hollow interior of a skull, fine bone structures lit from within.

Zoologica IX

Zoologica: a preserved clawed foot gripping folded membrane, in cool blue tones.

Zoologica X

Zoologica: an egg under glass, its surface covered in dark scribbled markings.

Zoologica XI

Zoologica: a cluster of sharp quills, softly focused, in cool blue tones.

Zoologica XII

Zoologica: the curved, ridged edge of a bone or shell emerging from darkness.

Zoologica XIII

Zoologica: the scaled skin and feet of a preserved reptile, in cool blue tones.

Zoologica XIV

Zoologica: close-up of long curved fangs in an animal's jaw.

Zoologica XV

Zoologica: close-up of the nasal openings of an animal skull.

Zoologica XVI

Zoologica: the wandering suture lines on the surface of a skull, like a map.

Zoologica XVII

Zoologica: a small dark specimen dotted with white spots, against a soft pale background.

Zoologica XVIII

Zoologica: the flower-like pattern of coral skeleton cells, in blue-toned black and white.

Zoologica XIX

Zoologica: a single pale fang bared in a furred animal's jaw, against darkness.

Zoologica XX

About the series

I recall seeing a collection of small birds as a child and seeing them all laid out in neat rows… their tiny feet curled in unison. Maybe that’s when the idea for Zoologica actually began.

In this series I combine my passion for creating visually arresting images with my scientific training and lifelong interest in biology. I have long been drawn to the nature of specimen collection: the capture and death of animals to identify them or include them in a collection.

Contemporary observation, where an animal is observed as much as possible in its natural environment, is a relatively recent thing, aided by small observational and monitoring technology. Previously, we’d shoot a bird to identify it.

I am also intrigued by the nature of mortality and memory, and the idea that nothing truly dies until the last person who remembers it has forgotten. The specimens featured in the show were in their prime and bottled, pinned or cast in Lucite shortly after death. Ironically, they have lasted longer than if they had died and decayed on the forest floor, the bottom of the sea or indeed been eaten. By viewing these images, by holding the image in your mind, you keep the animal that once flew, crawled or swam alive in a small way.

The images were captured with very shallow depth of field, and a vignette added to give the sense of observing each specimen through an isolating tube or microscope.

Geoffrey Dunn