Performing Archeology

SHOOTING DUCKS: Defending Cultural Heritage

Video and installation, Lia Lapithi 2019

Shooter’s training aid (duck Target), Heavy-duty steel, angled back plate,

50x 22x20cm / 5 print-images* of a Cypriot bichrome-ware bird-shaped askos utricle(10x10cm), covering the Magnet Pellet Trap Duck Targets.

*Print images of museum copy : Terracotta Cyprus Bird-shaped Askos 22x 13.5x10cm, Late Bronze Age, Cyprus Archaeological museum.

Performing Archaeological is a series of taking-on museum antiquity-copies and translating them to the present. “Shooting Ducks” is a devastating satire on the modern world’s alienation from the past ancient culture. A disconnection from the past to a dehumanized dystopian today.

Hunting has always been part of Cyprus history, but not as is seen today. Ancient Cyprus, beginning from the Epipalaeolithic way of life, was based on hunting, fishing and gathering (12000-9500 BC). The earliest indications of agricultural activities date between 9500 and 8700 BC, the period known as Pre-Pottery NeolithicA (PPNA). Around 7000 BC, the process of neolithization seems to have been completed, and pottery made its appearance.

Modern Cyprus today, is ranked as the fourth most militarized country globally and the third country with the most hunters per population. Furthermore, issues of illegal possessions of antiquities, trafficking and illicit trade are also high ranked.

Shooting Instructions:

1.Begin to shoot at the four outer targets. After these have been hit, they will fall down, and they will magnetically be kept in this position.

2.By scoring a hit on the central target, all other outer targets will automatically be reerected.

3.In case pellets tend to stick to the target because of intensive firing at these targets, apply a thin coat of oil to the targets in order to prevent sticking.

Safety Instructions [as seen on Shooter’s training aid]:

1.Only use air guns (rifle or pistols) with a muzzle energy not exceeding 7,5 Joule when you shoot. Only use projectiles made of lead (pellets or shot). Warning: Do not use shot (so-called BB’s), pointed steel projectiles, air gun darts, or other unsuitable projectiles made of hard material.

2.All shooters and observers/spectators should always wear protective shooting glasses.

3.Always be sure your backstop is adequately secured. Use heavy blankets and the like to provide the background with additional protection. Do not place the backstop in the vicinity or in the front of windows, doors or similar objects.

4.Health and Environmental Warning: Discharging air guns in poorly ventilated areas, cleaning air guns, handling projectiles or handling range equipment may result in exposure to lead and other substances known to cause birth defects, reproductive harm, cancer, and other serious physical injury. Wash hands thoroughly after exposure.

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“Howling Man” museum copy, turned into a teapot.

Copy dimensions 20x20cm (copy not to scale, intervention on copy was an addition of a teapot handle), porcelain miniature tea-cup and saucer (12cm diameter x7cm).

Howling Man- is the largest and most striking relic yet found from the Chalcolithic era, dating to c5500 BC. “Howling man” sits on a stool, elbows on knees, erected penis. If water is poured into his mouth it will drain from his phallus. No other piece like it has ever been found on the island. Archaeologists have debated whether the figure had a religious or a secular function, but no consensus has ever been reached. They call it Howling Man, but it’s more of a man in sexual ecstasy. Exhibited in Room 1 - Case 1, Bank of Cyprus Cultural Foundation, Pierides Museum - Larnaka,Cyprus.