BLOODHOUND

Bloodhound is a visual documentation of the psychological decompression British troops returning from war undergo, before they go back home to their loved ones, and to normality. Forever changed by their experiences on the frontline, soldiers are given a brief moment in time where they stand in abeyance, before responsibilities resume upon their return to the UK. Functioning from 2007-2014, Bloodhound Decompression Camp was part of the UK’s Ministry of Defence’s efforts to reduce the rates of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in veterans, by providing a safe and welcoming environment where soldiers returning from war can spend some time outside the theatre of operations, but away from the responsibilities of home, to relax, unwind, and discuss their frontline experiences with their colleagues. Despite such facilities and services being made available, studies show that even in 2017/18, 4 out of 5 UK Armed Forces personnel were assessed with having a mental disorder. Exploring the themes of identity and home, and more broadly war and peace, Bloodhound offers an intimate glimpse into the journey of self-discovery and self-reflection that troops go through when they find themselves in an in-between space, a place away from the conflict of battle, but also a place they cannot call home. Bloodhound can be seen as the eye of the storm: a momentary ‘in-limbo’ experience of stillness and tranquility in a world where ‘war [is] the norm and peace the exception’.