Tania Gonzalez Takes a Couple of Spaces of the Chilean Capital with Works that Combine Painting and Taxidermy

After having exhibited her work in Galeria Temporal throughout August, Tania Gonzalez has been occupying, since September 6, another space in the Chilean capital: Galeria Bech.

Both displays show only one product in which the young artist combines painting and taxidermy. Dead birds and hares are the central figures of her installations.

Tania Gonzalez is a painter and works as a taxidermist at the National Museum of Natural History, with CHUCAO company. Through the painting, her work has also tackled the sculptural sphere, placing the main emphasis on the key image: the body of dead birds. The models are linked to that parallel work, also suggesting a visit to the places where flamenco painting (17^th century) is exhibited. The operations –among other objectives– are aimed at “sublimating the lifeless matter.”

In spite of their condition, these birds show beauty and vivacity. Like pictorial models or taxidermied bodies within boxes, they play the leading role in object-like positions, contemporary still-life paintings and allegories of death.

Between August and September, the artist has taken emblematic sites within the local art circuit. Both displays show only one product in which Tania Gonzalez deals with installations and includes hare bodies.

 “Se levanto en su gloria” (August 5 – 30) joined “Circuito Temporal” exhibition series at Galeria Temporal, which were exhibited in mall showcases all over Santiago. Forty blackbirds hanging in different levels made up a display of identical and realism sculptural representations, and only two models were actually taxidermied birds. Poet and academic Eugenia Brito wrote: “The funeral character of this work is based on the fact that blackbirds are metaphors of human beings and their flying ability.”

“Tres pies de profundidad” (September 6 – October 3, BECH Gallery), shows paintings and boxes of different sizes. Beyond the pure representation, the artist adds the interest in occupying the space, by mounting up the works and lifting them in the hall. Ten artworks, including paintings and showcase-boxes of metal, oil painting and taxidermy of such species as birds and hares, some created by the artist and some donated by taxidermist Miguel de la Fuente.

Source: Press release