abraham poincheval lives inside a bear for two weeks
all images courtesy of musée de la chasse et de la nature

 

 

 

 

for thirteen days and thirteen nights — beginning on april 1st, 2014 — french artist abraham poincheval is living inside the hollowed-out carcass of a bear, positioned in the center salon at the musée de la chasse et de la nature in paris. just like the mammal during the winter months, poincheval remains within a small enclosure, keeping with him all the basic things he might need to survive throughout the weeks spent inside; food, water, activities and even a place to relieve himself are all contained inside the makeshift unit. by residing within the species, poincheval aims to understand his own physical limits and experience animal nature, a symbolic image of the ‘inside out’ of a bear during hibernation. visitors to the museum are encouraged to interact with the encased artist. the performance is relayed for the public 24 hours a day through a live feed.

abraham poincheval lives inside a bear carcass for two weeks
the french artist reads inside the bear

abraham poincheval lives inside a bear carcass for two weeks
poincheval has everything he needs within the enclosure to sustain himself throughout the day

abraham poincheval lives inside a bear carcass for two weeks
some of the tools within the bear

abraham poincheval lives inside a bear carcass for two weeks
from the outside, the artist is invisible, hidden within

abraham poincheval lives inside a bear carcass for two weeks
a view from the live feed inside the habitable sculpture