Thereby hangs a tail
An exhibition curated, designed and installed by INSTAR featuring over thirty heritage specimens selected from one of the UK's largest natural history collections at Wollaton Hall, Nottingham. Our vision for this exhibition was to connect audiences to the beauty and wonder of each individual exhibit but also to highlight the vulnerability and conservation concerns of each species on display. Working closely with collection managers, we removed all glass cabinet surrounds, together with a dark, theatrical space lit only by spot lighting, with the aim of inviting visitors to get close up to exhibits for a more curious and personal experience.
Our exhibition design included a practical taxidermy workshop area, for Chris Orgil, a leading restorer in taxidermy to share his expertise and his passion for the natural world as a naturalist and visual artist.
“INSTAR’s projects have been transformative for Nottingham Museums and approached by INSTAR with their clear passion for natural history collections and innovative approach to their interpretation. INSTAR’s boundless creativity breathes new life into collections, enabling the viewer/visitor to see specimens in a different light, to notice the unique and the unusual and to view from a different perspective.”
— Jo Kemp, Manager of Collections and Engagement, Nottingham Museums and Galleries
