Erika Pezzoli, Artemis, 2024

Artemis offers an intense and intimate look at the relationship between humanity and the age-old practice of hunting, a bond that stretches back into the mists of time. At the center of this narrative stands Carola, a young huntress whose connection to the ancestral dimension of this activity is of fundamental importance.

For Carola, hunting is more than just a way to procure food: it is a profound connection with the cycle of life itself. Her choice to actively place herself within the food chain as a predator implies a deep understanding of the responsibility such a role entails. It is a deliberate decision, considering that Carola limits herself to consuming only the meat she has hunted and butchered personally, just two or three animals a year.

For Carola, hunting goes beyond mere nutrition. It plays a vital role in caring for the land she calls home. This activity is also of great importance for the forest: population control of deer, chamois, and roe deer means participating in the stewardship of the territory she inhabits. Overpopulation of these animals benefits neither the flora nor the mountain fauna, and selective culling helps safeguard biodiversity.

All of Carola’s hunting activities are carried out in compliance with current laws and regulations, in collaboration with the relevant authorities, such as the Forest Rangers. This ensures that the operations are conducted ethically and sustainably, contributing to the conservation of the natural environment.

Carola has a special bond with the forest: it is a place where she feels welcomed, at ease—it is part of her, and she is part of it, in a silent dialogue whose roots reach back into distant times.