Dissertation in the field of contemporary art: MA Mikko Ijäs

In his dissertation Ijäs examines early examples of rock art of hunter-gatherers and proposes that some fo the visual depictions could be explained through the experiences of the persistence hunters. Ijäs has titled the visible evidence as the ‘fragments of the hunt´.

MA Mikko Ijäs will defend his dissertation Fragments of the Hunt. Persistence Hunting, Tracking and Prehistoric Art. on Thursday 1 June 2017.

Opponen: PhD, prof. Daniel Lieberman, Harvard University
Custos: prof. Kevin Tavin, Aalto University Department of Art

The discussion will be in English.

MORE INFORMATION:

Two million years ago, our ancestors were running down antelope on the African savanna. Instead of relying on complex weaponry, they relied on endurance and they chased their prey until it died. This process often derailed the hunters’ consciousness into transformation hallucinations. Studying the last hunter-gatherers of the Kalahari Ijäs was able to establish a connection between the hallucinations, trance ceremonies, and the imagery depicted in rock art.

Ijäs claims that some of the earliest examples of visual depictions could be explained through the experiences of the persistence hunters. Ijäs has titled the visible evidence as the ‘fragments of the hunt´, which are not just depictions of hunting, but allegories, such as adoration of the animal’s grace, transformation imagery, depictions of tracks, and images of running people.

In this multidisciplinary thesis Ijäs covers several fields of inquiry including psychology, archaeology, art history, ethnography and paleoanthropology.

A documentary film related to the dissertation and titled "The Origins" will be presented in the Hall U2 at 10 am. The viewing is open to the public.

WELCOME!

The dissertation notice and the published dissertation are placed for public display at the Learning Hub Arabia (Hämeentie 135 C, 5th floor, room 570), at latest 10 days before the defence date.