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Maquenda — Circle of Balance
#animal #animals #culture #fox #foxes #reference #vulpes #vulture #canine #cruel #dead #death #flowers #funeral #fur #morbid #nature #paws #photography #roadkill #sad #tail #taxidermy #whiskers #art #vulturecultureart
Published: 2015-12-20 22:21:18 +0000 UTC; Views: 5952; Favourites: 315; Downloads: 53
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Description
“Circle of Balance”.Two most beautiful male and female foxes I aquired from a local hunter. They got shot as pest control and I thought they were too wonderful to just throw away in the garbage…
For more photos: artofmaquenda.tumblr.com/post/…
I know it's a natural reaction of humans to be replused by death..but I've always had a fascination for this ever since I was a kid and I'm exploring this fascination...
I see beauty in certain things that are hard to explain, even for myself...but I know that beyond the sadness there is a certain beauty in death, that I'm trying to show in my works.
I know this means not everyone will like my work, but at least, I can somehow try to make at least someone look at this in a different way than they are used to...for me death is part of nature, part of life..eventually everything will die, but nothing will ever be wasted..
Even the end of life... has a sublime beauty...
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Comments: 77
See, this one makes me sad. I don’t like the idea of killing an animal just to be rid of it. If you need the fur or the meat, etc., for survival, I think it’s justified, but I think it’s cruel to kill a creature simply for pet control. (No offense to the hunter; I still have respect for them.)
You’ve managed to make these dead foxes into a memorial for themselves, and capture the moment forever. <3 I think it’s beautiful what you’ve done for them.
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as the description says, they're not..
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;-; Now I hate myself for not reading and wishing not to have asked. Im sorry
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oh my gosh this is so stunningly beautiful! I totally get you, I've always been fascinated with death as well. There's a haunting beauty in it that only some people can appreciate, and I think that's because I understand death better than most people. I don't think there's anything wrong with turning something tragic into something beautiful. In a way, you're honoring those foxes' lives, giving them a memorial of sorts. But the symbolism you have going here and the title of the piece, all put together make this so impactful. I love this so much, and keep making your beautiful work regardless of what others may think.
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Thats....so beautiful, yet so sad....it's perfect.
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I didn't know this photo was made by you when I saw it on tumblr. But this has to be one of my all-time favourite photos ever taken.
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I forgot to ask in my previous comment, but would you allow me to use this photo as a reference for a drawing? With proper credit and linking back of course? c:
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Oh ofcourse! <: I'm eager to see it
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Heb je ze nogsteeds? Want mijn vriendin wil ze anders eventueel nog wel hebben.
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Nee sorry, ik gebruik zelf alle delen van de dieren die ik krijg/vind..
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Ow wat goed! We hebben het skelet van onze kat die begin vorig jaar overleden is op laten zetten en die staat nu bij ons in huis. Kei mooi. Mijn vriendin is zelf bezig met een beverrat en ik heb nog een reeenkop in de tuin liggen. Het is zo mooi om de dieren een "2e leven" te geven zo. Ik vind dat ook zo fantastisch wat jij doet. Als je wil kan ik de foto's van de kat wel eens laten zien?
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Oh graag laat alles maar zien!!!
ik post niet alles wat ik doe op Deviantart, zet het meeste op m'n instagram..en hoe kom je aan jouw beverrrat en reeënkop? 
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Ik heb je ff een note gestuurd!
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Death can attract attention sometimes, in certain cases, and even be somewhat hypnotizing. For me, those who are killed in action are such case.
But...pest control? I thought foxes are considered pests only in Australia...
A male and a female, from the same hunter...sound like they pretty much could be mates or siblings. Unnatural selection =/
And the wounds of the right fox look horrible, as it was killed by hunter's dog's teeth. Even if not exactly so, that death seems to have been full of pain.
Extremely sad...I hope you gave them decent burial or something.
I would suggest mature tag
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Nope, not only in Australia..There are certain places in here in the Netherlands were they are considered pests and are legal to hunt on. (I personally don't agree, but that's a WHOLE different matter and has nothing to do with my photography).
They haven't been shot at the same, but over the past few months, as I told them I didn't want them to be thrown away. I'm the person keeping the bodies, not shooting them.
There are no wounds on the photo btw, only blood smears, as I had to carry them in a frozen bag.
And no I did not bury them, I'm keeping the skins and will clean them for the bones and skulls, for arts an crafts, this is MY way of honoring a dead animal.
I'm sorry if this image upsets you. But again, don't like and don't agree? Don't look.
I also see no gore, no violence, no nudity or sexual themes so I personally don't feel the need to put a mature tag on.
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Well, I don't say it's illegal or something, and I'm not judging the photo, it is made quite good. Leaves and stuff are interesting components in particular.
I just felt I had to express something that bothered me on that matter and clarify it.
Considering the burial, I meant their remains AFTER you skin them and get needed bones and skulls. Nevermind. Heh skulls are indeed popular part to keep, so many people have and show them here on dA.
Thanks for explanations though.
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Ah I see, I get why you're upset...
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I love this, and all of your other works I would honestly think of buying a huge print to hang on my wall.
The pops of color would really brighten my white room and its just so beautiful
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I really like it how controversial this theme is. This community is all about praising and encouraging others and it translates into somewhat polite conversation instead of the rage you usually see on internet. From my perspective this photo is beautiful and interesting in it's own way. I would never support skinning foxes or killing them specifically for a photo but in this case they would have gone to waste otherwise, yes? Then what harm would there be to respect the beauty of these animals' and nature by photographing them in this beautiful setting? You've done stunning work!
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Thank you very much! I really don't want to start a drama and I hope my description is clear enough that I don't support killing, I love animals and rathere see them live, but I collect roadkill and other dead animals and objects, because I want to preserve their beauty, photographing is another way of doing so as well..
Thank you!
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Don't worry, the description is clear alright! If there's someone who is going to get mad they are going to get mad no matter what you write. Opinions are allowed of course.
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Yeah...Opinions are allowed, but I prefer opinions that are well build you know...
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its sad so many people cannot see it as a natural part of nature;; I mean everything dies.. its what you're here for.
I think these pictures are gorgeous, I love the close up shots especially;; very beautiful piece
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Thank you very much Vrisky, I'm happy that you see beauty in death..it might be hard to see sometimes, but beauty can be found everywhere <3 Thank you
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Disgusting! Sorry, but I really don't want to see dead animals as art . Especially over the Christmas season .. And then to find out that they will be skinned? Wont be following this kind of art . Thanks!
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Lmao do you know there are millions of turkey slaughtered with Thanksgiving and Christmas?
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Lol, don't like it, don't comment!
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I can understand if someone doesn't perceive this kind of posing of animal bodies as art. I find it haunting and beautiful, but it certainly doesn't appeal to everyone. What I don't understand is why it upsets you more that they will be skinned, aka their bodies will be put to use as opposed to rotting away and being used for nothing. I'd be far more upset if I was told these animals would be thrown out in the woods somewhere as opposed to being preserved through skinning.
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What Maequenda does is less a "showcase" or "celebration" of death and more of a respect for those who would have otherwise fallen prey to an inane, nameless grave like so many animals do every day, with nobody to recognize or remember them. To me, Maquenda's pictures are a ritual of reverence, and as an animal lover and wildlife proponent myself, I find it to be absolutely commendable.
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Thank you very much Shadowwolf
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I'm sorry you don't like it. It's not everyone's cup of tea. I find beauty in death and try to portray this in my work, and will continue to do so..so yeah ''Don't like, don't look'' applies here I suppose..
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I don't like taxidermy either but I think these photos are beautiful, I think it's a beautiful tribute, even if it's true that it's sad...
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Death is a natural part of life, and those two animals were from a hunter who shot them for pest control, if you had read the description. The fact that they are being skinned means that the beauty of them can carry on for a while more. I know that kind of stuff isn't for everyone, but the artist did right with this photoshoot. Art is controversial in many of its forms.
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Thank you very much NightsGem..!
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I can second this as well.
It's not even drawn, it's a photo of dead animals.
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So photography is no longer a form of artistic expression?
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