Britta Jaschinski @ Mall Galleries
What sort of person decides it’s not just acceptable, but desirable, to turn a lion’s paw into a bottle opener? The idea is so incredulous that it seems too outlandish for even a fictional villain like Dr. Evil and yet there it is, one of many sobering images in ‘Still Life’, an exhibition that discusses and depicts animals as products of trophy hunting.
You’ll also see a rack of fur coats, but that’s one of the least scandalous examples on display of inexplicable cruelty perpetuated by the trophy hunting industry. Working closely with border patrol and customs agents, award-winning photojournalist Britta Jaschinski has been given access to confiscation storerooms to document the sad and often surreal ways in which humans have chosen to demonstrate their dominance over other species. Except these images will probably make most viewers feel sad and helpless.
A white rhino calf has been turned into a pencil holder. A pair of elephant feet were converted into matching stools. One photo shows a female stuffed leopard that was found with a pair of leopard print shoes. Forensic tests revealed they had potentially been made from her own cubs. When she spoke at the opening Jaschinski even noted that she once saw a tiger foetus that had been cut out of it’s mother’s womb, commenting “These are the moments when I feel ashamed to be a human.”
“These wonderful shocking photographs”, as described by actor and animal rights activist Peter Egan, are hauntingly beautiful but with each one just as jarring as the last I began to wonder why anyone would want to do this. Though staged and lit like a product or fashion photo shoot the images have more in common with murder crime scene photography. Arguably, they are. When people ask Jaschinski what she does she tells them: “I collect evidence of our ignorance, and our ethical and ecological failure.”
This short-run show presents a radically different experience than the annual Wildlife Photographer of the Year awards and it’s unlikely to top any lists of must-do family Easter break events. It’s not so much an art exhibit as it is a campaign rally because sometimes it’s just too hard to fathom how disturbing something is until you see the impact with your own eyes. Trophy hunting is still legal in many parts of the world. These images will make you question why.
The Labour Party pledged a ban on imports of cruel hunting trophies in its 2024 election manifesto and recently rebranded Humane World for Animals (formerly Humane Society International) is hoping this exhibition will help generate interest and support for that cause. Here’s a link to the proposed bill on the Parliament website.
To find out more about the campaign to end trophy hunting and show your support to protect wildlife, visit humaneworld.org/trophyhuntinguk
Plan your visit
‘Still Life’ runs 08-12 April 2025.
Free Admission, no booking required
Visit mallgalleries.org.uk and follow @mallgalleries on Instagram for more info about the venue.
Visit brittaphotography.com and follow @britta.jaschinski.photography on Instagram for more info about the artist.
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