LOS ANGELES, CA.- The historic, incredibly detailed dioramas of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County have inspired visitors for a hundred years, transporting viewers to natural locations all over the world and introducing them to the animals that depend on these habitats to survive. Reframing Dioramas: The Art of Preserving Wilderness explores the history of dioramas and deconstructs the art and science that makes them so compelling. Set in a newly refurbished diorama hall that has been closed for decades, the exhibition features three habitat installations made by contemporary artists.

NHM’s historic diorama halls showcase more than 75 incredibly detailed habitats from Arctic tundra to tropical rainforest. To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the dioramas, NHM has restored and reopened a diorama hall that has been closed for more than 30 years. Sixteen installations feature animals and habitats from Africa, Asia, Australia, and South America, now fully restored and updated. Standouts in the hall include forgotten masterpieces of diorama art like the Snow Leopard and Tiger habitat groups.

Three new habitat groups made by contemporary artists push the boundaries of what dioramas can be. They are:

• A Peculiar Garden by Washington-based artist Saul Becker: An apocalyptic yet hauntingly beautiful landscape of glass, crystal, and metal that draws attention to ways humans have altered the habitats around us.

• The Ever Changing Flow by Los Angeles artist Lauren Schoth: A dynamic diorama that uses projection mapping to explore centuries of ecological change along the banks of the Los Angeles River.

• Special Species: A Delicate Moment in Time by Los Angeles artists Yesenia Prieto, Joel Fernando, and Jason Chang (RFX1): A vibrant, kaleidoscopic mix of projections, changing lights, and handcrafted piñata alebrije (fantastical Mexican folk art sculptures) that reveals the spirit realm permeating through iconic Californian species and their habitats. This installation will be updated seasonally throughout the exhibition.

The artists worked closely with NHMLAC taxidermist Tim Bovard, who has been creating and maintaining the taxidermy specimens in NHM’s dioramas for more than 30 years. The exhibition is organized by NHM, with Bovard, and Matt Davis, Exhibition Developer, Allison Shultz, Associate Curator of Ornithology, and Kayce Bell, Assistant Curator of Mammalogy, providing content support.

Reframing Dioramas includes elements that critically examine dioramas by delving into their origin, artistry, controversies, and impact. For example, a macabre ossuary evoking hundreds of thousands of birds slaughtered by poachers – a poignant reminder of the environmental crises a century ago that inspired artists to preserve entire habitats behind glass in dioramas. Breaking the illusion that dioramas usually create, a complete diorama is deconstructed into each individual handmade plastic leaves and glass eyes, with the realistic background scenery left halfway painted.

At the apex of the hall, a 27-foot-wide projection reveals a distressing panorama of the ongoing and rapid destruction of South America’s biodiverse Gran Chaco habitat, an area larger than California. In another installation, a flock of birds burst into flight from a traditional display cabinet of bones, highlighting the dramatic way that the invention of dioramas radically changed the experience for natural history museum visitors.

A new richly illustrated publication titled Fabricating Wilderness: The Habitat Dioramas of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County reveals the untold history of NHM’s awe-inspiring dioramas and showcases their artistry with behind-the-scenes photographs. It will be available for sale online, in local bookstores, and at NHM.

Reframing Dioramas is among more than 70 exhibitions and programs presented as part of PST ART. Returning in September 2024 with its latest edition, PST ART: Art & Science Collide, this landmark regional event explores the intersections of art and science, both past and present. PST ART is presented by Getty. For more information about PST ART: Art & Science Collide, please visit pst.art. This exhibition is one of two groundbreaking exhibitions hosted by NHMLAC, combining art and science for this year’s PST ART event. The other is Mark Dion: Excavations at La Brea Tar Pits.