Sunday, November 21, 2010

Specimens of Mythological Creatures Displayed in Japanese Museum

The Museum of Fantastic Specimens exhibits specimens of fantasy and mythological creatures. This cryptozoology museum is curated by Hajime Emoto, based in Japan.


Cryptzoology Explained

Cryptozoology can be translated from Greek to mean “the study of hidden animals”. Cryptozoology is a pseudoscience, as the animals that cryptozoologists focus on have no physical evidence according to mainstream biology. These are animals, creatures and humanoids that appear in myths, legends and fairytales.

Animals that are studied by cryptozoologists are often referred to as cryptids. Examples of cryptids are the Loch Ness Monster, Big Foot and the Chupacabra. The term can also be used for fairies, ogres, goblins and elves. The search for living specimens of creatures that are believed to be extinct, such as dinosaurs, the quagga or the dodobird, can also be classified as cryptozoology. Many scientists criticize the ’science’ of cryptozoology, as cryptozoologists rely on anecdotal information such as myths, legends and folklore.

Creatures from Mythology and Fantasy
Above: Homo Pumilis Gidoronia: Microid Female. This is a specimen of a female fairy.

Above: Homo Pumilis Gidoronia: Mocroid Male. Specimen of a male fairy.

Above: Draconis Arbuscula (Bush Dragon)

Above: Draconis Transylvania (Romanian Dragon)

Above: Evil Beast #11

Above: Evil Beast #22

Above: Scallop Crab

Above: Ira Jose


The Museum of Fantastic Specimens

The Museum of Fantastic Specimens is open 24 hours a day and can be visited here. It is a 3-story virtual museum that showcases Emoto’s imaginary taxidermy artworks. Each specimen is a papier mache sculpture; made using bamboo, paper and modelling paste. In the past, artists have created fake photographs of ’sightings’ of cryptids, but Emoto has taken the art of cryptozoology to a new level, by constructing ’specimens’ of mythological creature remains. His designs are eerily realistic, with a degree of intricate detail not found in many papier mache sculptures. From claw to tooth, these models appear to be quite real, as if Emoto has simply found them lying beneath a pile of leaves or sand. Sadly, these macabre creature cadavers aren’t real…

Or are they?


Read More on Art-Sci:
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