Exhibition at Ocean Space Venice Explores Repatriation Through Ritual and Water

Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary (TBA21) Academy has launched its 2026 program at Ocean Space in Venice with the exhibition 'Tide of Returns.' This show, developed by the Repatriates Collective, involves artists, filmmakers, and Indigenous communities from Australia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America. It reimagines repatriation as a continuous, relational process rather than a one-time event, emphasizing embodied practices, memory, and ritual. The exhibition is installed in the former Church of San Lorenzo, creating an immersive environment. In the west wing, a large installation features sand from Anindilyakwa Country and thousands of handcrafted figures made from shell, textile, and stories, serving as vessels for ancestral knowledge. Historical objects, such as shell dolls returned from European collections, are presented alongside new works, highlighting cultural survival and intergenerational transmission. In the east wing, Verena Melgarejo Weinandt's textile and video installation focuses on care, with braided fabrics and water evoking the body as an archive and water as a memory carrier. Water is central to the exhibition, acting as a method to connect geographies and sustain memory, aligning with TBA21 Academy's focus on ocean literacy and intercultural dialogue. The exhibition avoids declarative tones on restitution, instead offering a nuanced perspective on homecoming through listening and reciprocity. It will be on view until October 11, 2026.