Relaxing Chamber

The title refers to the entomological term standing for a highly humid container that is used for the preparation of insects before being pinned. When they are dead for a long time, their bodies can become distorted and then the chamber comes to use to make them more flexible. Similarly, as entomologists stretch insects, Kazantsev seems to be doing it with our consciousness – expanding it to the deepest corners of our minds. 

Humans and animals submerged in dark and abstract spaces contribute to an uncanny atmosphere – this strange familiar unfamiliarity. Mystical in essence, Kazantsev’s body of work can be seen to be influenced by Carl Jung’s school of thinking, particularly, in connection to his theorization of archetypes and the collective unconscious. Jungian archetypes can be understood as universal patterns of thoughts or images present in the collective unconscious (inherited memories and impulses of which we are not aware) of all human beings. As much as animals are present in ours, by flipping the pages, we begin to question whether animals have similar archetypes about us. Let’s say, for instance, we have this collective fear of snakes or spiders, do animals have something analogous? It made me think of an example when I read about studies testing the aggression of dogs which showed to be stronger against men than women. Perhaps, dogs have this innate archetype of being fearful of men. But how can we know?