09 October 2010

The Curious World of Walter Potter


Walter Potter was a Victorian taxidermist from West Sussex who created a mad, mad world where squirrels puff on cigars as toads play leapfrog and rat police raid a drinking den. The animals strike human poses against painted backdrops ...there's something of Beatrix Potter's world..only turned upside down.
A show is about to be opened of his work at the Museum of Everything which is in Primrose Hill in London and which specializes in the work of outsider artists. The pop artist Peter Blake is co-curating the show. He has loaned pieces for the show as has Damien Hirst, the comedian Harry Hill and the photographer David Bailey. The piece which Damien Hirst has contributed is an assemblage of natural enemies including
cats, a sog, birds, squirrels, rats, mice and a tortoise, all in a distinctly uneasy truce.

The show is on until Christmas but check first before visiting.

To see more of Harry Potter's work visit http://www.ravishingbeasts.com/walter-potter/

Also try visiting the Museum of Everything's website not least because it is is a beautifully drawn one:
http://www.museumofeverything.com/