Making Love in the Zoo

Making Love in the Zoo explores stories of sexuality in the environment of captivity in the Zoological garden. The zoo is a place of nostalgia and wonder, and reflects our preconceived ideas about nature, but what do stories of sexuality from the perspective of the zoo’s residents tell us about our own sexuality? Is there such a thing as sexual freedom for the caged? To what extent is a ‘forced marriage’ allowed, and how do you decide for insemination?

For this publication, Kuang-Yi Ku and Thijs de Zeeuw started by researching the role of sex and reproduction in the zoo. But, as it is with sex, they couldn’t stop fantasizing, and so this publication is not just a presentation of their research, but contains speculative designs as well. The stories you find are the result of conversations with the zoo, its keepers and researchers, and discussion between Kuang-Yi and Thijs. They discuss their work and question the role of sex in the Zoo of the Future!