«es menschelt»
Documentary Photography, 2022 and ongoing
Trophy rooms are monuments to human dominance—spaces where hunting meets prestige, ego, and controversy. While some see them as tributes to nature and tradition, others view them as symbols of exploitation and excess. These rooms tell a story of power, memory, and the blurred lines between admiration and destruction.
Mr. B. stands in a room of his childhood home, which is currently being renovated. He used to be a big game hunter. Today, he views hunting with more critical eyes and has stored some of his hunting trophies here.
2022
So-called ‚head and shoulder mounts‘ are a special form of animal taxidermy. They certainly belong to the country house aesthetic and seamlessly blend into this apartment.
2022
Heinz Adam, born in 1949, is a hunting book author and, though less active than in the past, still a passionate hunter at the age of 75. Together with his wife, he has undertaken several hunting trips to Africa. Here, he poses for a photo in his dining and study room.
2025At a small corner desk, surrounded by memories of past travels and hunting trophies collected along the way, hunting book author Heinz Adam writes his books.
2025
Heinz Adam’s hunting rifle lies on the floor of his living room.
2025
The animal skins need to be moistened to make them supple and stretchable for taxidermy. During the drying process, they are pinned in place to prevent any shifting. This is crucial, especially for birds, to maintain the feather structure and colors in the correct position, achieving a realistic appearance.
2022Heike Köhler shapes the facial features of a wild boar. Her workshop is located in a historic half-timbered farmhouse from the 16th century. She enjoys working here — “But not for living,” she laughs.
2022The artificial glass eyes used in taxidermy are, logically, always sold in pairs. The plastic imitations are delivered in blister packs—almost like medication. They come in various sizes and levels of realism.
2022Heike Köhler has been working as a taxidermist for over 35 years. A few years ago, she started her own business and is now known through her company “Nature Arts” for particularly realistic and nature-inspired taxidermy. In her workshop, she is currently working on a small field hare.
2022
The sculpting process of the face takes most of the time. It should look as natural as possible. Taxidermists are always happy when customers bring a photo of how the animal should look. Here, taxidermist Heike Köhler shapes the facial features of a young field hare.
2022The Jägereiverband Augsburg e.V. is one of the older hunting associations in Germany. Its chairman, Hans Fürst, has known hunting since he was a child and is committed to the preservation of nature. In addition to his involvement with the Bund Naturschutz, he trains hunters. In the theory lessons for the hunting license, his students learn the anatomy of native animals using true-to-nature specimens. These are lined up in a specially designed room in the clubhouse.
2022Mr. W. shot a baboon during a hunting trip in South Africa. He mentions that he shot the animal in 'Breitenbach': This is the former name from the apartheid era for the region around Breyten and is still used by German big-game hunters for reasons of colonial nostalgia. As if it were still like colonial times today.
2023Upon entering this basement, now transformed into a display area for numerous taxidermy pieces, the sheer abundance of taxidermied animals can be initially overpowering. Aside from the neck and head of a giraffe emerging from the floor, Mr. W. also proudly showcases multiple endangered species. One day, he hopes to hunt a polar bear — “before they go extinct,” he says.
2023In the living room, alongside hunting trophies, there are also other mementos, such as photos from their trips.
2022
The living room of the M. family in a small town in Lower Saxony. Mr. M. and his wife have been going on hunting trips for years but have not traveled recently due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Now they are planning their next trip: 'Many animals are now cheaper because too few have been shot due to Corona. Especially giraffes!', Mrs. M. tells me.
2022
The living room of the M. family. The space evokes memories of my grandparents' living room, yet it has transformed into this peculiar hunting chamber. The grand, sturdy wooden furniture and vintage wallpaper serve as reminiscent elements, juxtaposed with the unusual display of taxidermy.
2022
On this day, hunting book author Heinz Adam is wearing a golden necklace with a pendant in the shape of the African continent. The pendant features hunting symbols reminiscent of cave paintings. Indeed, hunting is the oldest motif in art.
2025
Hunting book author Heinz Adam takes a picture off the wall: 'Even as a child, I went hunting. My grandfather took me along back then—that's me with the stick in my hand, there on the left!', he recounts.
2025
His living room is a place of memories under the theme of hunting: As a hunting book author and passionate (big game) hunter, Heinz Adam has collected some pieces over the years that he wants to have around him at home. Here he poses for a portrait.
2025
Mr. B. picks up dust fluff from the floor as he leaves the storage room in the parents' house on his farm, which is in need of renovation. He doesn't come here much; it's almost like he's stored his past as a big game hunter in this place, a chapter closed, leaving the thrill of the chase and those times far behind.
2022