Bjarne Melgaard Brings Real Live Tigers To Ramiken Crucible

In recent years, dead animals have been everywhere in art: David Shrigley's taxidermy cat, Adel Abdessemed's various grotesqueries, Damien Hirst's butchered menagerie. Lately, though, live beasts have been mounting a comeback, thanks in large part to artist Darren Bader. He deposited a goat at Andrew Kreps last year, cats and an iguana at his MoMA PS1 show that opened in January: good, adorable sculptures.

Now the Norwegian artist Bjarne Melgaard has raised the bar. On Friday, there were two young white tigers lounging in a metal pen at Ramiken Crucible gallery on the Lower East Side, where Mr. Melgaard has organized a group show with the curious title "Ideal Pole." The animals are there to serve as model for collars and capes by the Brooklyn--based designer Ms. Fitz.

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