| Popis: |
I encountered this collection of specimens 4 years ago in The National Museum of Natural History in Paris while I was there pursuing another photographic project. The museum was created in 1640 at the initiative of King Louis XIII as The Royal Garden of Medicinal Plants. It has a rich and fascinating history as one of the leading European centers for scientific exploration. The specimens I photographed, both human and animal, date from the late 1880s to the mid-1960s. When I first discovered the collection, I was astonished—so many little beings preserved at their last instant of life, now floating in bottles and isolated in a darkened, strong-smelling laboratory. On seeing the specimens categorized as “Human Monsters,” I felt as though I had stepped backwards in time into a realm of different human possibilities. I had feelings of repulsion and attraction, sadness, and an overriding curiosity to find out more about their individual stories. For 2 days, I photographed the collection without really knowing why. Over time, however, it has become clear to me that these specimens offer us an important opportunity to look deeply within ourselves to ponder and examine what it is to be human. They also raise more questions than answers, especially about such issues as fear, intolerance, isolation, and our relentless pursuit of perfection. I believe that this collection should be seen by a wider public, and I hope that these specimens can be viewed with openness, compassion, and a sincere willingness to understand what they represent, which may well be different for everyone. |
