(Image source: YouTube/PowNewsTelevisie )

 

BY KERRY LEARY

ANCHOR LAUREN GORES


It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s... a dead cat? Dutch artist Bart Jansen decided to honor his deceased cat — by taking taxidermy to whole new heights.

The cat’s name was Orville. He has a brother Wilbur, named after the flying pioneers, the Wright brothers. Orville was hit by a car earlier this year, and Jansen converted the body into a helicopter.

CNN asked Jansen about his invention , which he calls the “Orvillecopter.”

“I really love this cat. And for me, this is a way to make him eternal.”

The Orvillecopter went public over the weekend at an art festival in Amsterdam. As most could imagine, the “kitty-copter” is getting some mixed reactions. A writer for Babble states-

“I’m not exactly sure how a stuffed cat-copter is ‘art.’  It’s more like ‘what happens when a high school robotics class goes completely unsupervised.’”

A writer for the Mirror says while some pet owners stuff their deceased animals, and some cremate them or bury them in a garden, this memorial is at least unique.

“It seems unlikely that many would choose the approach taken by one Dutchman – and transform their passed away pet into a hybrid helicopter cyborg.”

He adds.

“If Orville had been transformed into a plane instead, would he have created a ‘meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeow’ sound while flying overhead?”

According to MSNBC, reaction has been mixed , but it hasn’t been negative.  And a writer for PopBlend defends the idea , saying what really matters is that Jansen feels it’s a fitting tribute.

“Typically, artists who use animals in strange ways are treated to a vicious stream of negativity... I’m not sure I would ever honor a creature in such a way, but different strokes for different folks I suppose.”

Jansen said the project is visual art... even though he has trouble staying off the ground for long. But don’t worry — Jansen has big plans for the Orvillecopter. He told SkyNews Australia...

“He will receive more powerful engines and larger props for his birthday. So this hopping will soon change into steady flight.”