Fauna

First edition of Fauna by Joan Fontcuberta and Pere Formiguera. First impression. Medium format softback in fine condition.

About

This photobook is largely illustrations (photographs, drawings, and documents) of elaborately constructed imaginary animals: a snake with six pairs of legs; a winged elephant; a tusked rabbit and other wonders. This elaborate artistic hoax was based on the premise that Joan Fontcuberta and photographer Pere Formiguera had discovered the archive of Dr. Peter Ameisenhaufen (1895–1955), a researcher of obscure and previously unknown creatures. The resulting exhibition appeared in several European countries, Japan, Canada, and the United States. A review of the show at MoMA described, "photographs both in their natural habitat and in laboratory situations; detailed field notes, in both the original German and English translations; an occasional skeletal X-ray or dissection drawing; two or three tapes of animal cries; and, in one case, an actual stuffed specimen."