The Museum of Hunting and Nature in Paris is evolving

After around two years' work, the Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature in Paris is preparing to unveil all its changes to the public. The museum is expanding, rising to the second and top floor of the Parisian Hôtel de Guénégaud and Hôtel de Mongelas, adding 250 m² to accommodate 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 Musée de la chasse et de la nature, tells Le Monde.

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With this kind of space at its disposal, the Musée de la Chasse wanted to offer something new, a deeper reflection on the links between man and the living world . " Originally, the focus was on 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 institution's director.

The museum does not deny its heritage. Hunting and the living may seem to clash, but Christine Germain-Donnat does not want to erase this aspect from her collections.

" Whatever we think of it, hunting is part of our civilization. It's a sensitive, even divisive subject, but we can't rewrite history and pretend it never existed. " Nevertheless, the director points out that no view - for or against - is forced through the museum's exhibitions. " With us, there's no didacticism. Visitors remain totally free to express their opinions ," she promises.

The thousands of pieces in the Sommer collection, the couple behind the museum, remain firmly in place. However, they are joined by a number of new exhibits. 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 the exhibition spaces are immersed in a muted softness, to provide a more immersive visitor experience. " Our common thread is the public's sense of wonder. Getting away from the hustle and bustle of the street to discover nature in a dreamlike, poetic way is what encourages reflection ," explains the director.

Visitors can now climb all the way up to the museum's rooftops to discover a whole display of naturalizedbirds and fish. The way the animals are presented varies from one era to the next, reflecting human perception of wildlife.

Numerous upcoming events

The Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature intends to rapidly renew 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 legacy, of putting it into perspective. "

So we're waiting for the museum to reopen - with no specific date yet - to discover all these new features. For its return to the news, the Musée de la Chasse is preparing a very special event. Visual artist Damien Deroubaix will be interfering with the tour with his panels, canvases and sculptures inspired by Greek mythology, climate skepticism and the extinction of animal species. Quite a program.

The artist confides to Le Monde that this highly personal vision of the relationship with the living is intimately linked to his private life. " When I was asked to exhibit in this museum, I had just become a father and was wondering about the world in which my daughter would grow up. The oceans are emptying, nature is being polluted, all to save jobs. This can't go on ," he says indignantly.

Other innovative projects are already in the pipeline, a sign of a rich cultural year to come. " What I hope is that this museum will be different ," concludes the director.