"Hunting is a game for two" examines the confrontation between traditional hunting norms and the modern, idealized digital world. Interfaces emerge between the modern lives of young women and centuries-old rituals that reveal a deep longing for nature, authenticity and the archaic. The significant role of social networks in shaping aspiring huntresses is illuminated, as this subculture spreads digitally from its inner origins to the outer world.
"Hunting was a male innovation and speciality, the story insisted. And what was not hunting had always been. Hunting was the principle of change; the rest was a base line or a support system.“ (Donna Haraway, Simians, S. 86)
"Passionate hunters want to kill. Hunting without murder would be an oxymoron, a concept that cancels itself out." - Paul Parin
In the midst of the discussion about hunting, the forest and nature, we find ourselves paradoxically in a room, an installation that obviously communicates through its interior design. This apparent irritation, which served as the driving force for the work, is reflected in the representation of the interior as a contradiction.
The irritation functions as the starting point of my narrative. It raises the question of how much of nature is actually preserved while we are in a man-made space discussing natural issues. The tension between the artificial space and the longing for the wild and untouched reveals a deep ambivalence.
The interior space serves as a mirror of identity. It reflects our ideas of comfort, security and aesthetics, which at the same time create a distance to uncontrolled and untamed nature. This reflection of the interior allows us to come to terms with our human existence and the consequences of our choices.
The use of photographic images taken by a game camera adds another layer - surveillance from the bed. This technological tool, normally used to monitor wildlife, is used here in a different context. It refers to the increasing surveillance and control that invades our everyday world and at the same time connects to our relationship with nature.
Hunting holds profound cultural and historical significance in the evolutionary trajectory of humanity. The conventional narrative portrays men as hunters and warriors, while women assumed the role of gatherers. Nonetheless, the extent to which hunting was exclusively a male domain remains unverifiable, as highlighted by archaeologist Rendal Haas.
Contemporary trends reveal a notable phenomenon: approximately one in four individuals acquiring a gun license today are female. This development can be interpreted as an emancipatory movement, representing a facet of modern societal progression.
Simultaneously, hunting is imbued with rituals and customs that form an integral part of the practice. These rituals encompass prescribed actions such as the "halali" ritual, specialized attire like Realtree camouflage or traditional costumes, the adoption of a distinct hunting language, the utilization of branch signs, the commemoration of the last bite, and the enactment of specific poses with the hunted game. The preservation of these traditions assumes paramount importance within the hunting community.
However, within these hunting traditions, certain realities often become obscured by euphemistic or metaphorical expressions. These linguistic devices serve to downplay or beautify specific aspects of the hunting experience, allowing hunters to present them in a more palatable manner.
However, within these hunting traditions, certain realities often become obscured by euphemistic or metaphorical expressions. These linguistic devices serve to downplay or beautify specific aspects of the hunting experience, allowing hunters to present them in a more palatable manner.
