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crypto-taxidermy prop for dr bullers birds

'theatrical performance'

When asked if it was possible to recreate an extinct bird of New Zealand, a female Huia, that had to look life like, be able to be used as a hand puppet and have some fake internal organs, that could be removed for a surgical scene, we said ‘of course, anything is possible at Izzat’

Using our crypto-taxidermy skills developed during our work on the Te Papa exhibition, Blood, Earth, Fire, we obtained the appropriate bird pelt in which to base our specimen on.

We sculpted a skull with the distinct beak of the Huia, to which the pelt is attached. Glass eyes and cheek wattles help to achieve a lifelike appearance. A zipper was placed in the stomach region and lined to accommodate the fake organs.

The organs were sculpted and cast in Elastomeric polymer, a soft gelatinous material that can be removed and reset for the dissection scenes.

When the organs are removed the actors hand can then be used to control the head movements and turn the bird into a hand puppet. The period style travelling case was made to house and protect the bird and the implements used in the show.