Taxidermists: Inside the World Taxidermy Championships

For some, taxidermy is a practice about art, science and a love of wildlife Subscribe to the Aeon Video newsletter: Watch ’Taxidermists’ on Aeon: Watch more free videos on Aeon: Subscribe on YouTube: Follow us on Twitter: Follow us on Facebook: Follow us on Instagram: There is something supremely uncanny about taxidermy: the hyperrealism of its representation makes the inanimate seem animate, and – for some – uncomfortably real. That sense of eerie realness is the exact quality that makes for a superior piece of taxidermy – the kind that wins awards at the World Taxidermy Championships. Nicole Triche’s short documentary provides a balanced look at an uncommon profession, addressing the relationship between taxidermists, animals and nature, and the practitioners’ struggles to be taken seriously as artists.