‘God created, Linnaeus organized.’ This is how Carl Linnaeus, the famous 18th-century Swedish physician, botanist, zoologist, and geologist, described his contribution to science. Centuries later, his classification system is still used worldwide, along with many of the names he assigned to individual species, such as the name for humans: Homo sapiens.

Linnaeus compiled an overview of all the world’s plant and animal species to unravel the mystery of creation. To his work, Systema Naturae, he added a curious list: the Animalia Paradoxa, the unclassifiable species. This is the chapter we zoom in on. ANIMALIA PARADOXA is a unique collaboration between Duda Paiva and Lavinia Meijer. Together, they dive into the world of the Swedish scientist, viewing it from his perspective. They bring Linnaeus’ wondrous animalia to life and explore the undefinable, that which does not fit into a box and in which nature reveals its true essence. How would the 18th-century taxonomist assess the diversity of the modern world?

Duda and Lavinia see themselves in the peculiarity of the ‘Animalia Paradoxa.’ Not fitting within the system. Their authenticity brings them new forms of expression, with striking imagery and original music, recently awarded by professional juries: Duda received the Swan for Avatāra, a co-production with Illusionary Rockaz Crew. Lavinia received an Edison in 2022 for her album ‘Are you still somewhere?’, which includes some of her own compositions.

ANIMALIA PARADOXA is their ode to the beauty and complexity of nature. A plea for the undefinable, the freedom to simply ‘be’.

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