After about two years of work, the Museum of Hunting and Nature in Paris is preparing to unveil all its changes to the public. The museum is expanding to the second and last floor of the Parisian hotels of Guénégaud and Mongelas. An additional 250 m² will be used to host new exhibitions. " We still have a lot of work to do, but it's a very exciting time ," Christine Germain-Donnat, director and curator of the Museum of Hunting and Nature, told Le Monde.
With such a large space at its disposal, the Hunting Museum wished to propose something new, a deeper reflection on the links between Man and the living. " Originally, the reflection stopped at our relationship with nature, but over time, the question has obviously broadened. Human activity has an impact on the entire living world, so it seemed obvious to us to tackle this subject ," explains the director of the institution.
The museum does not deny its heritage. Hunting and living things may seem to be opposed, but Christine Germain-Donnat does not want to erase this aspect of her collections.
" Whatever one thinks of it, hunting is part of our civilization. It is a sensitive and even divisive subject, but we cannot rewrite history and pretend it never existed. " The director nevertheless reminds us that no vision - for or against - is forced through the museum's exhibitions. " With us, there is no didacticism. The visitor remains totally free to express his or her own opinions ," she promises.
The thousands of pieces that make up the Sommer collection, the couple behind the museum, remain in place. On the other hand, some new items are joining them. This is the case, for example, with the gigantic Anthropocene diorama, which tells the story of human-animal cohabitation and the consequences of this special relationship.
All of the exhibition spaces are immersed in a muffled softness, in order to provide a more immersive visiting experience. " Our common thread is the wonder of the public. Getting away from the hustle and bustle of the street to discover nature in a dreamlike and poetic way, that's what encourages reflection ," says the director.
Visitors can now climb up to the roof of the museum to discover a whole display of naturalizedbirds and fish. Depending on the era, there are differences in the way the animals are presented, reflecting the human perception of wildlife.
Many events to come
The Museum of Hunting and Nature intends to renew rapidly with its artistic events and exhibitions. Christine Germain-Donnat explains that " receiving artists on a regular basis is our way of supporting French creation, but also of giving meaning to the Sommer's legacy, of putting it into perspective. "
We are therefore waiting for the reopening of the museum - which does not yet have a precise date - to discover all these novelties. For its return to the news, the Musée de la Chasse is preparing a very special event. The visual artist Damien Deroubaix interferes in the visit with his panels, paintings and sculptures inspired by Greek mythology, climate skepticism or the extinction of animal species. A whole program.
The artist confides to Le Monde that this very personal vision of the relationship with life is intimately linked to his private life. " When I was asked to exhibit in this museum, I had just become a father and I wondered about the world in which my daughter would grow up. The oceans are emptying, nature is polluted, all to save jobs. This cannot go on ," he says indignantly.
Other innovative projects are already in preparation, a sign of a rich cultural year to come. " What I hope is that this museum will be different ," concludes the director.
Location
Hunting and Nature Museum
60, rue des Archives
75003 Paris 3
Access
M°Arts et Métiers
Official website
www.chassenature.org
