Tide of Returns: Repatriation as Living Practice at Ocean Space Venice

The Repatriates Collective presents 'Tide of Returns' at TBA21–Academy's Ocean Space in Venice, curated by Khadija von Zinnenburg Carroll. The exhibition reframes repatriation not as a transaction but as an ongoing relational and ceremonial process. It features shell dolls (dadikwakwa-kwa) from Groote Eylandt, Australia, returned from Manchester Museum, displayed on a sand dune installation that evokes the shoreline. The show includes works by Anindilyakwa artists Danjibana, Annabell, Stephanie Durilla, and Elvis Bara, alongside contributions from Verena Melgarejo Weinand and others. The exhibition runs until 11 October 2026. Zinnenburg Carroll emphasizes collectivity, gentleness, and infrastructural activism, working against conventional museum display to prioritize relationships over ownership. The project grows out of direct engagement with legal and institutional repatriation debates, including collaborations with AIATSIS and communities in Namibia and Nigeria.