London Oddity To Get Even Odder

James Drury
By James Drury Last edited 113 months ago
London Oddity To Get Even Odder
Tribal skulls from New Guinea.
Tribal skulls from New Guinea.
A selection of skeletons.
A selection of skeletons.
An elaborately-carved 19th century skull.
An elaborately-carved 19th century skull.
Tray of bat skulls.
Tray of bat skulls.

London's about to get its "first all-encompassing museum since the opening of the Horniman in 1910", as Hackney's Little Shop of Horrors transmogrifies from eccentric gallery and venue into a museum proper.

When complete, the new Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities will host two art exhibitions per year on its first floor, while the 'Wunderkabinett' in the double-vaulted basement will display the museum's collection of oddities (and we really mean ODDities) — in the idiosyncratic manner anyone who's been to the Little Shop of Horrors will understand. Shrunken heads bump up against antique pornography; kidney stones against artworks. It's quite an experience.

The team behind the Mare Street space has been fundraising to complete the alterations (including a disabled toilet and a bar), and launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund it.

Until the museum opens on 7 November, take a gander at some of the collection in the gallery above.

The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities, 11 Mare Street, E8 4RP. See www.lasttuesdaysociety.org for details.

Last Updated 30 October 2014