Nevermore 2010: stillborn fawn, black garnet beads, sterling silver, coque feathers, chain mail
Sophie Gannon Gallery, 2 Albert Street, Richmond, Victoria
Yet another reason to miss Melbourne – taxidermy-queen Julia de Ville has a new exhibition. Provocative and macabre, de Ville’s work spans across jewellery, wearables and sculpture, but never strays too far from her dark aesthetic.
Combining elements of fine jewellery with the taxidermic remains of animals, de Ville explores our relationship to death and the deceased. The beauty of her work is always slightly uncomfortable; death made visible. Taking cues from Victorian mourning jewellery, de Ville does not mean to offend, but rather to enshrine.
All the animals used in de Ville’s work die of natural causes. She is a vegetarian and a supporter of animal rights. By foregrounding the un-aliveness of the animals, de Ville reminds us of our own mortality, suggesting that if we accept our own mortality, we learn to appreciate the significance of our own lives – and the lives of others.
