Being a professional fine-art taxidermist, it’s obvious what category he places himself.
“I know it’s hard to believe, but the presence of death has nothing to do with it for me,” says the Dutch artist.
“It’s about shapes, color and construction, not death. But if you think it’s gross, I can’t even start to explain the beauty to you.”
Then, after a moment of reflection, he adds: “I’m not weird.”
As part of the Darwin-Sinke-van-Tongeren collective — which makes the unusual move of including Charles Darwin as a member — van Tongeren and his artistic partner, Jaap Sinke, create extraordinary taxidermy artworks that have been and acclaimed all over the world.
The pieces are inspired by the paintings of 17th Century painters like Jan Weenix, Melchior d’Hondecoeter and Adriaen van Olen, and have been called “flamboyant 17th century luxury”
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“That is the feeling that has stayed with me. I know it’s hard to believe, but it’s about capturing and holding beauty, not death.”
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