Behinds Quote by Annette Messager
“I can see today that the same sort of issues lie behind taxidermy and photography. Taxidermy consists in preserving a bird in full flight... In the same way, photography halts and freezes motion and life.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Art and Memory, Artforum, 2003
Both taxidermy and photography capture and freeze moments, turning life into static objects.
In simple terms: Preserving life freezes it, like a snapshot.
Key Takeaway
Consider how preservation changes meaning.
Themes
art
memory
mortality
representation
Mood
reflective
thoughtful
critical
Type
analytical
conceptual
When to use this quote
- museum curation
- family photo albums
- digital archiving
- memorials
Key Concepts
visual arts
philosophy of photography
ontology
Questions to Reflect On
- What is lost when life is frozen?
- Can frozen images still convey motion?
A Different Perspective
Preservation may strip context and vitality.
![“[My work] includes something about death, and about love, because the photos always have something to do with death. The photograph is like taxidermy. It is like the animals I use. They are posed in order to appear to be alive, but they are dead. Their time has passed. The photos have to do with…” quote by Annette Messager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/364/annette-messager-44479_alive_my-work-includes-something-about-death-a_2434589.jpg)
![“[Love] can be found in making little dresses for stuffed birds, or in a garden of tenderness like I have done - mixing writing, photography, and real spaces. There are all kinds of acts of love.” quote by Annette Messager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/de3/annette-messager-44479_acts-of-love_love-can-be-found-in-making-little-dress_1187354.jpg)
