This course will introduce students to the process and techniques behind basic taxidermy. Students will learn how to skin, prep, preserve, mount and position the animal.

Rogue taxidermy is the surrealist’s approach to the preservation of the animal kingdom dedicated to reinventing the natural world as seen in dreams, or even nightmares. For London Month of the Dead 2016 taxidermist Suzette Field will teach a beginners class in rogue taxidermy that looks at creating a two-headed or a winged rat. All materials – including a rat (or two) for each student – will be provided, and each class member will leave at the end of the day with their own taxidermied rogue rat.

GUIDANCE NOTES:

* All rodents, insects and birds are ethically sourced and were not killed specifically for these workshops. Rodents were bred as feeder animals for snakes and lizards. Not only would they be discarded if they weren’t sold but the reptiles who eat them wouldn’t be able to survive if the feeder rodents weren’t commercially available. Unlike us omnivores the majority of reptilian species don’t have the option of being vegetarian.

* NO dangerous chemicals will be used and all animals are disease free.

* Please be advised that this class is not for the faint hearted. There will be minimal blood and gore, but taxidermy is not for everyone.

This event takes place as part of ‘London Month of the Dead’. Curated by a Curious Invitation and Antique Beat to inform, entertain and provoke on the subject of death and London cemeteries.