Down the Staircase and into the Mind of Viktor Wynd

Welcome to the mind of Viktor Wynd. Delve down a steep spiral staircase, underneath an Absinth bar in East London, and you will find a unique collection of curiosities both interesting and macabre. It is a mix between an art gallery and a museum with pieces ranging from shrunken heads, objects of magic and the occult, and various animals including some of Viktor Wynd’s own dead pets. You can even see Pablo Escobar’s gold plated hippo skull displayed among the mummified creatures and human bones. This collection of extraordinary relics are both fascinating and grotesque and will surely leave you wondering, who collects this stuff??

The Legend of the Fiji Mermaid

This lovely creature meets you immediately upon your descent into the museum. Part crab, part fish and part man - could it be a merman? The museum also has a full skeleton of a supposed mermaid and a mummified hand from another one. But these specimens definitely don’t match the typical mermaid image. Instead, they’re way more unsettling, with teeth and scales on a body that’s half mammal, half fish. These creatures more resemble the Ningyo from Japanese folklore, rather than Disney’s little mermaid. The legendary Fiji mermaid is a prime example of this more terrifying version.

Legend has it that the original Fiji mermaid was caught off the coast in the South Pacific islands and was displayed in Barnum’s New York City Museum in the 1840s. The mermaid is thought to have come from Japanese sailors who sold it to Europeans for large sums of money in the 1820s.

The mermaid was likely constructed in Japan by combining salmon and monkey parts, making the creature appear to be half mammal and half fish. Though the Fiji mermaid was fabricated, it was based on a well known Japanese legend, the Ningyo.

The Ningyo - literally translated to ‘human-fish’ - is an ancient creature, half human and half fish that has appeared in ancient Japanese literature since the 7th century. They were believed to be bad omens, but eating their flesh was said to grant eternal youth. One legend tells of a fisherman who was turned into a Ningyo as punishment for fishing in sacred waters. His horrifying body was displayed in a temple to remind people to appreciate the blessings of life. In fact, there’s a mermaid mummy in a temple in Okayama, Japan, which is said to have been caught in a fishing net in 1736. It’s been worshipped over the years and even prayed to during the recent coronavirus pandemic.

Hybrid Taxidermy

Amongst the various objects within the museum such as Amy Winehouse’s poo and a giant’s leg bone, there are numerous examples of taxidermy on display. Some of these taxidermied creatures are particularly interesting as they appear to be hybrids. Throughout history, hybrid animals have been prevalent in legends, such as the minotaur and the griffon, as well as the Ningyo mentioned earlier.

Hybrid taxidermy can bring these mythical beings to life, well almost! While this art form is recognized today, it was often used as a hoax in earlier times, although the platypus ultimately turned out to be a real thing! One notable example is the three-headed Turducken, a combination of rooster, duck, and turkey, created by hybrid taxidermy artist Sarina Brewer. Another artist Enrique Gómez De Molina produces stunning works in a similar medium, such as ‘Crabby,’ a piece that is half squirrel and half crab.

Top Tips

The museum is very small but packed with interesting displays and you can easily spend an hour exploring all of them. Tickets can be purchased at the door, though it is recommended to book in advance to avoid disappointment, especially on weekends. Tickets can be booked on their website https://thelasttuesdaysociety.org/museum/.

Children are allowed in the museum with adult supervision before 5pm. There are some erotic objects on display and a few items that may be scary to children, though my son aged nine had no problems.

The museum occasionally offers ticketed guided tours, which includes a glass of absinth, a great deal for 10 pounds! The tour can be booked via the website above. Although the tour is not necessary since all items are labeled or self-explanatory, I imagine it could be a fun experience.

Other events include talks with Victor Wynd himself, sharing witchy fairy tales, tarot and palm reading events, and a myriad of other tastings, workshops, and talks all bookable in advance on their website.

You can even book an excursion with Victor Wynd to various places including the Congo and Benin in search of voodoo.

Address

11 Mare Street London E8 4RP

Getting There

The museum is located in Hackney, near Victoria Park. The closest tube stop is Cambridge Heath on the London overground Weaver line which is a 4-minute walk away, alternatively, it is an 11-minute walk from Bethnal Green tube station on the Central line.

Ticket prices

Adults: £12.00, Concessions: £8.00. Thursday admission is discounted to £4.00 for all. Admission includes a cup of tea upon request.

Opening Hours

Tuesday-Friday 15:00-23:00
Saturday 12:00-23:00
Sunday 12:00-22:00

Victor Wynd’s Museum of Curiosities, London England