ATRAIN AND A TORCH

 

KANTAKAUPUNGIN JAHTISEURA -
  METRO HELSINKI HUNT CLUB         

VILLE KOKKONEN

ville[at]studiovaltimo.com

TEEMU OKSANEN

teemu.oksanen[at]nd.fi

JUKKA PASANEN

jukka[at]tyohuone15.fi

www.kantakaupunginjahtiseura.fi

Jahtiseura products are based on the idea that there is a strong link between design, culture and tradition. Hunting in Finland is a centuries-old survival art and a part of the Finnish heritage. On show in the SAUMA exhibition are two objects, which belong to the first generation of Jahtiseura products.
The two products, the atrain and the spearfishing torch, represent not only the revival, but even more importantly, the modern remake of these two essential hunting instruments. The idea is to revive old archetypes of hunting that stands in stark contrast with the contemporary fast-paced lifestyles. With them it is possible to return to a more traditional and total enjoyment of hunting where it yet again
becomes a form of art.  
 
Jahtiseura products are designed to be exclusive, sought-after items and they are made with the finest of materials. Some serve many functions outside the hunting arena, despite the association of the company’s name with hunting. The initial intention is to aim towards mass-production. But the products will always be polished with the brush of craftsmanship. They bear the stamp of chivalry and professionalism worthy of the heritage they reflect.
 
Two people, a lake, darkness, a boat, an atrain and a torch. These are the elements of lake fishing with a seven-pronged spear, which in the deep South of the USA is called gigging and in Scotland leistering. North American Indians call it burning the water. The Finns call it tuulastus, which also
refers to fire. The Finnish fishermen consider this spearfishing perhaps the noblest of all the known forms of fishing. This primeval form of fishing has remained almost unchanged for centuries and even the equipment keeps to the tradition that relies on speed, precision, shrewdness and extreme stealth.
Windless, calm and dark autumn nights see fishermen leave for the lake with an atrain and a torch. They are after predators like pike, beram and burbot. They push the boat into the water, light their torch and start hunting. The boat slides slowly and silently on shallow waters. One man uses the oars, while the other stalks for prey. Their torch creates the sole light on the lake. In that flickering light they see the bottom of the lake. They spot a sleeping, motionless pike that seems to hover in its element. The boat halts. The spear starts to move. The prongs tread lightly towards the pike and stop above it. Swift as lightning, they hit the fish. The pike dies instantly. The predator has become the prey.  
 
Atrain resembles a harpoon or a spear, but is never thrown. Traditionally it has seven prongs made of iron and attached to a wood stick. The Jahtiseura Atrain is the modern version of this tool. It can be used both by professional and amateur fishermen. It is made of first class materials and has been
tested in demanding Finnish weather conditions. The Jahtiseura Atrain has seven aluminum prongs with changeable jagged heads. It is a dangerous weapon, which has proven invincible. In the 1700's the light in the torch was burning tar. The oil lamp replaced that method. They were followed by
various variations of electric lanterns, and now by a genuine innovation that takes us to a new era. The light that shines from its thirteen LEDs is stronger and easier to direct than that of its predecessors. The torch's light looks natural, and the torch can be attached to all boat models in the market.  
 
The members of Kantakaupungin Jahtiseura are the designers Ville Kokkonen, Teemu Oksanen and Jukka Pasanen. Although each member is busy running his own daily design business, they share a mutual belief that most modern people lack the one-to-one predatory skills of the animal kingdom. They spend time contemplating how to develop the Jahtiseura product range that would awaken those one-to-one predatory skills.

Summary in Finnish