Brian Looker's workroom deep in the bowels of the Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery is a veritable wildlife park of Tasmanian fauna: there's a flock of muttonbirds suspended from the ceiling, a sugar-glider possum, a couple of emperor penguin chicks, a water rat, and a pair of young Tasmanian devils.
The nocturnal devils can be as elusive to a taxidermist as they are to spot in the wild. With their idiosyncratic movements and curious faces, Looker believes the devil is one of the hardest animals to "get right". And Looker should know; he has stuffed a lot of animals and birds – from male fur seals to the wee firetail bird. The Museum's specimens are acquired under a passive collection policy: only collecting specimens that die of natural causes or have been picked up as roadkill.
Looker uses sketches, photos, film and the internet to understand how an animal looks and moves in the wild. His worktable is strewn with tools of the taxidermists' trade including pliers, glue, pieces of foam and his work-in-progress – a chestnut teal duck.
Somewhat surprisingly birds are rather easy to recreate and Looker can complete two duck specimens a day. Mammals, including devils, take much longer – they must be skinned and tanned and are then reassembled around an inner mould. Looker's stuffing of choice is foam which, as a non-natural fibre, is more effective at keeping the exhibits insect-free.
Meanwhile upstairs in the gallery, visitors are admiring the dioramas and displays, brought to life by the work of Brian Looker.
More information
Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery
40 Macquarie Street Hobart.
Open daily, 10.00 am to 5.00 pm. Closed Good Friday, ANZAC Day (25th April) and Christmas Day (25th December).
Entry is free (charges may apply for some special exhibitions).
www.tmag.tas.gov.au
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