Moments of Wilderness
Przewalski’s wild horse galloping full speed ahead, a fox hunting mice, a kingfisher emerging from the water with a fish, otters at play … not scenes from a nature documentary, but snapshots from the lives of animals, captured by the masterful hands of the taxidermist.
Tirol native Peter Morass, 50 years old and recognized Europe-wide as a master of his art, is virtually unsurpassed in bringing to life these scenes from animals’ fight for survival, and in portraying the animals’ species-specific behaviors. Whether flying or courting, diving into the water, fighting or mating, wooing a pontential partner or foraging for food: the scenes seem so authentic, that their actors—the animals—appear to be alive.
The exhibition shows altogether 44 animal scenes, with animals from various corners of the globe. Eleven large, free-standing objects are included—such as the Przewalski horse fleeing from wolves, badgers mating, does with suckling fawns, and many more. The 33 other preparations are shown in eleven large and 22 small display cases, before backdrops that imply their original habitats. Several particularly beautiful works are presented on rotating bases. The whole scenery of the exhibition is accompanied acoustically by sounds of animals and nature, so that the visitor feels transported into the atmosphere of a jungle.