‘The origin of the faeces’ exhibit

An animal exhibit about poop

Kingston’s FUSEBOX, a new cultural center, will host the world premiere of one of the UK’s most unique art exhibitions that converts the subject of poo into a pleasurable, cost-free, and family-friendly natural history experience.

As explained here, The Origin of the Faeces: Poo from the Zoo is a one-of-a-kind exhibition organized by Tracey Lee, a former senior zookeeper at the London Zoo who has spent the last 22 years collecting and conserving animal dung from more than 100 different species, many of which are threatened in the wild and are a part of significant international breeding programs intended to safeguard the species’ future.

For the first time, Tracey is now allowing guests of all ages to investigate the bizarre and fascinating world of animal poops, challenging social norms, and igniting discussions about the environment and conservation.

Tracy, who has an art background, has worked for London Zoo for more than 30 years. Throughout that time, she has provided care for some of the most spectacular animals on earth, including elephants, black rhinoceroses, pygmy hippos, and Sumatran tigers. When the elephants she had been caring for every day for the previous 12 years were transferred to Whipsnade Zoo in 2001, her extraordinary collection and creative adventure officially began.

She felt herself strangely drawn to the final lone ball of dung as she was clearing up the elephant house for the last time. So, she dried it out and preserved it instead of throwing it away. A short while later, the last black rhino in the zoo also was moved, and Tracey was once more inspired to save its final poop. She eventually used these two memories as part of her first painting, The Last Poo at the Zoo, which was painted on canvas and is from where her collection developed.

Currently, Tracey’s extraordinary collection has over 100 preserved pieces of excrement from a variety of animals, including microscopic droppings from a caterpillar and kebab-shaped feces from an endangered gorilla.

Using Tracey’s unique procedure, each poop has been meticulously conserved, preserving the details and making them odorless and hygienic to display.

In addition to getting up close to the poop, the exhibition will offer viewers an opportunity to learn more about Tracey’s trip through images, audio, and artwork.

The Community Brain, a not-for-profit organization in Tracey, Kingston, and the youth arts charity Creative Youth collaborated to create Poo from the Zoo. It will also be the first significant exhibition to debut at FUSEBOX, the brand-new multi-arts venue in SW London that was officially inaugurated in July by HRH Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh. FUSEBOX is situated beneath John Lewis, just a short distance from Kingston Bridge.

Tracey Lee says, “I’ve been collecting and preserving animal poo for the last 22 years, and in all that time, it’s been in my home, where it’s only ever been seen by a handful of people and never in its entirety”.

“This exhibition isn’t just about poo; it’s about capturing the essence of these magnificent animals in a way that’s both educational and eye-opening. It’s a celebration of nature’s diversity while also a sobering reminder of the environmental challenges we face”.

The Community Brain and Creative Youth’s director and founder, Robin Hutchinson, MBE, says: “When we first heard about Tracey’s collection and her amazing story, we just knew it had to be shared with more people. This is a brilliant exhibition because it gives visitors permission to talk about poo, and that’s something that appeals to people of all ages”.

“I’m especially keen to use Tracey’s amazing exhibition to connect young people to the real plight of the natural world. The reality for many children today is that they can be more familiar with fictional Pokémon creatures than they are with many of the real-life species represented in Tracey’s collection. Getting up close to the creatures’ poo is a fun way to help enable this”.