Rayane Vuillemin is a Swiss–Moroccan photographer whose work explores how the living world is structured. Focusing on vertebrates, he uses photography to make taxonomy more understandable through visual comparison, revealing the diversity within families and genera to show both similarities and differences.
Inspired by comparative anatomy, this photographic approach removes context to focus on the subject. Animals are photographed under standardized conditions - neutral backgrounds, consistent lighting, and precise positioning - allowing direct visual comparison.
Freed from environmental cues, species of different sizes share the same visual presence. Displayed side by side, the images make relationships within families and genera immediately legible.
In this way, taxonomy becomes a visual experience, revealing how life is organized and why even subtle variations matter for biodiversity and conservation.
The work draws from anatomical plates, natural history illustrations, and museum displays, traditions that use visual comparison to reveal relationships within the living world. These references inform both the aesthetic and the structure of the project, where proximity and repetition allow differences and kinships to emerge without explanation.
Conceived as a long-term project, the work aims to build a comprehensive visual taxonomy of vertebrates. Through focused subprojects, it gradually expands across families and genera. The long-term goal is a major exhibition and an interactive online platform where visitors can navigate taxonomy through images.
For exhibitions, collaborations, or inquiries:
rayane@vuillemin.com
Instagram: @rayanevuilleminwildlife