Kerns Gallery portfolio THE GODDESS OF THE HUNT

THE GODDESS OF THE HUNT

This youthful feminine form, originally designed to passively display merchandise, has been reimagined as a symbol of self-sufficiency and aggression. The addition of the column further removes the form from its acrylic origins, instead conjuring images of marble sculptures from antiquity, which require a base form. The youthful form holds a freshly killed pheasant, while horns sprouting from the figure are further representations of the hunter’s trophies. The statue-like quality creates a suitable setting in which to depict the goddess of the hunt, a figure from Greek mythology. As in mythology, the elements in this piece are rich in symbolism: for example, pomegranates represent fertility; snakes, temptation. Likewise, the title of the piece has a dual nature, invoking the “display only” quality of the form in its retail setting, and the strength and individualism of young women left to confront societal pressures and corporate influence.