Welcome to the Art Zoo: Amsterdam's new museum elevating taxidermy to high art

A striking stuffed crocodile hangs from the ceiling with its mouth wide open, sharp teeth poised to strike—welcome to the Art Zoo, an unconventional museum opening in Amsterdam. Set to launch on Thursday, this unique venue aims to elevate taxidermy to the realm of high art, nestled in a historic 17th-century building that inspired the two artists behind the exhibit.

Artists Ferry van Tongeren and Jaap Sinke draw inspiration from the Dutch Golden Age, when painters depicted exotic animals brought back from distant colonies. This period saw artists capturing the beauty of brightly colored parrots, big cats, and other fascinating creatures in dramatic poses.

Van Tongeren noted, “Our work is inspired by 17th century sculptures and painters from the Golden Age, who painted animal scenes.” One example in the exhibit is a stuffed swan displayed in a defensive posture, reminiscent of Jan Asselijn’s famous painting, The Threatened Swan, which hangs in the nearby Rijksmuseum.

"It's a sculpture of a skinless animal, but it's still a sculpture, and we create the drama and the story," Van Tongeren explained. The duo has spent over a decade transforming taxidermy into art, moving away from their advertising careers.

Sinke described the multifaceted nature of their work: “You’re a little bit sculptor, a little bit surgeon, a little bit hairdresser, and a little bit painter.” He enjoys merging these diverse crafts into a cohesive artistic expression.

Exhibits include majestic tigers poised to pounce and birds of prey gripping long snakes in their talons. To address potential concerns from animal rights advocates, the museum prominently displays a sign stating their "Golden Rule": "None of the animals in our taxidermy artworks were taken from the wild or bred specifically for the Art Zoo Museum. All died of natural causes, under the care of zoos and breeders."

Museum director Eva Krook characterized the exhibition as an "aesthetic tribute to nature, wonder, and everything fragile and cherished." She emphasized the museum's role in a rapidly changing city: “In a city where everything is becoming bigger, more high-tech, and part of a chain, this museum offers an intimate space in the city center where the art of taxidermy is celebrated in all its beauty.”