Dezeen Magazine

Avifauna by Maarten Kolk & Guus Kusters

Stuffed animals covered in fabric by Dutch designers Maarten Kolk & Guus Kusters will be presented at Pierre Bergé & Associés in Brussels next week.

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A grey heron, tawny owl and blackbird were stuffed without plumage then wrapped in fabric and mounted on oak.

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The pieces, called Avifauna, will be on sale at an auction of objects selected by trend forecaster Li Edelkoort.

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Here's some text from the designers:

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Avifauna: Grey Heron, Tawny Owl and Blackbird - Maarten Kolk & Guus Kusters

Avifauna will be part of next weeks auction ‘Wish List – Li Edelkoort’ at Pierre Bergé & Associés, Brussels.

‘Avifauna’ is about bringing two common worlds we love together, nature and textile. We’ve started to materialize the beauty, shape and language of form that we see in animals and what’s better to start this search than to mold on the animal itself. The ‘Dutch’ Grey Heron, Tawny owl and Blackbird were stuffed without their plumage and used as dummies to design on.

Right now we’re working on designing still animals out of paper. We’re trying to find new shapes, techniques and textures from the motion of flying owls, fighting hares, walking storks and other animals.

The Grey Heron, Tawny Owl and Blackbird were first developed for Janice Blackburn’s ‘Small Show Huge Talent’ earlier this year. None of the animals were killed for this project.

Avifauna
Grey Heron, Tawny Owl, Blackbird
Maarten Kolk & Guus Kusters
2009
Oak wood, bestial materials, cotton, wool
Edition of 25

maarten kolk & guus kusters