Artists: Karrabing Film Kollektive & Rory Pilgrim
Exhibition title: Where the Tide Takes Us
Curated by: Jule Hillgärtner, Nele Kaczmarek
Venue: Kunstverein Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
Date: May 22 – July 25, 2021
Photography: Stefan Stark / all images copyright and courtesy of the artists and Kunstverein Braunschweig
The duo exhibition Where the Tide Takes Us by Karrabing Film Collective and Rory Pilgrim combines existing and newly produced films, paintings, drawings, and objects into an immersive ecosystem. The artists share an interest in new forms of communities and models for inclusive coexistence in harmony between humans, technology, and nature. In search of independent living spaces, the artists dream and speculate about alternative pasts, presents, and futures, while encountering landscapes in rural Idaho, Dakar, St. Petersburg, the Australian Northern Territory or even the oceans. For the present exhibition, Rory Pilgrim has re-edited pre-existing footage from their archive and embed-ded it in a “coral reef” of monitors, tablets, and cell phone displays. In their specific choreography, this “vegetation” reveals a permaculture of natural and sustainable cycles. On the other hand, the symbiotic relationship between land, animals, ancestors, and families plays a special role in the selected works of the Karrabing Film Collective.
In scenes transitioning between dreams and reality—the indistinguishability of which is still up for debate—everyday life in the community becomes the starting point for collective mythologies, but also for resistance against ongoing imperialist repression. Structured by the rhythm of the tides as well as one’s own breath, the exhibition changes day by day.
Karrabing Film Collective is an Indigenous film collective from Australia’s Northern Territory that formed in 2009/10; current members are Cameron, Gavin, Ricky, Sheree, Telish and Trevor Bianamu; Katrina, Kelvin, Marcia and Natasha Bigfoot-Lewis; Daryl, Lorraine, Robyn and Sharon Lane; Angelina and Cecilia Lewis; Chloe, Claudette and Ryan Gordon; Claude Holtze; Ethan, Marcus, Melissa, Patsy-Anne, Peter and Reggie Jorrock; Elizabeth Povinelli; Aiden, Deborah, Kieran, Rex and Shannon Sing, and Daphne, Linda and Sandra Yarrowin. The group’s works have been shown in numerous international exhibitions and festivals, including mid-career retrospectives at MoMA-PS1 (2019) and the Tate, London (2017) and screenings and installation work at the Gwangju Biennale (2021), Berlinale, Forum Expanded (2019/17), the Contour Biennale 8 and the documenta 14 (both 2017), and the Sydney Biennale (2016). In 2015 they received the Visible Award and Cinema Nova Award for Best Short Fiction at MIFF and 2021 the Eye Film & Art Prize.
Rory Pilgrim (b. 1988, Bristol) works across various media including song writing, composition, films, texts, paintings, drawings, workshops and live performances. Pilgrim regularly collaborates with others, creating a constellation of different people and communities coming into dialogue. Special long terms collaborators include poet and disability advocate Carol R Kallend, singer and songwriter Robyn Haddon, choreographer Cassie Augusta Jørgensen and poster maker David Andrews. Most recently, Pilgrim realized solo exhibitions at Badischer Kunstverein (2020), Between Bridges (2019), Andriesse-Eyck Gallery and South London Gallery (both 2018), and Plymouth Art Centre (2017). In 2019, Pilgrim was awarded the Prix de Rome.
Karrabing Film Collective, Kaingmerrhe (Sun) and Penidjebhe (Star) Futures, 2021, Installation View, Kunstverein Braunschweig, Courtesy the artist & Kunstverein Braunschweig. Photo: Stefan Stark
Rory Pilgrim, Where the Tide Takes Us, Installation View at Kunstverein Braunschweig, 2021, Courtesy the artist & Kunstverein Braunschweig. Photo: Stefan Stark
Rory Pilgrim, The Binding / Uhendüs, 2008, Courtesy the artist. Photo: Stefan Stark
Karrabing Film Collective & Rory Pilgrim, Where the Tide Takes Us, Installation View at Kunstverein Braunschweig, 2021, Courtesy the artist & Kunstverein Braunschweig. Photo: Stefan Stark
Rory Pilgrim, An Amazing Pursue, 2021, Courtesy the artist & Andriesse Eyck Galerie. Photo: Stefan Stark
Rory Pilgrim, Where the Tide Takes Us, Installation View at Kunstverein Braunschweig, 2021, Courtesy the artist & Kunstverein Braunschweig. Photo: Stefan Stark
Rory Pilgrim, We Are In This Boat, 2015, Installation View at Kunstverein Braunschweig, 2021, Courtesy the artist & Collection AkzoNobel Art Foundation. Photo: Stefan Stark
Rory Pilgrim, Where the Tide Takes Us, Installation View at Kunstverein Braunschweig, 2021, Courtesy the artists & Kunstverein Braunschweig. Photo: Stefan Stark
Rory Pilgrim, Where the Tide Takes Us, Installation View at Kunstverein Braunschweig, 2021, Courtesy the artist & Kunstverein Braunschweig. Photo: Stefan Stark
Rory Pilgrim, Where the Tide Takes Us, Installation View at Kunstverein Braunschweig, 2021, Courtesy the artist & Kunstverein Braunschweig. Photo: Stefan Stark
Rory Pilgrim, Time, 2015, Installation View at Kunstverein Braunschweig, 2021, Courtesy the artist & Andiresse Eyck Galerie. Photo: Stefan Stark
Rory Pilgrim, Where the Tide Takes Us, Installation View at Kunstverein Braunschweig, 2021, Courtesy the artists & Kunstverein Braunschweig. Photo: Stefan Stark
Rory Pilgrim, In The Long Grass, 2021, Installation View at Kunstverein Braunschweig, 2021, Courtesy the artist & Andriesse Eyck Galerie. Photo: Stefan Stark
Rory Pilgrim, Where the Tide Takes Us, Installation View at Kunstverein Braunschweig, 2021, Courtesy the artist & Kunstverein Braunschweig. Photo: Stefan Stark
Rory Pilgrim, Untitled Garment, 2015, 14/16, Installation View at Kunstverein Braunschweig, 2021, Courtesy Andriesse Eyck Galerie. Photo: Stefan Stark
Rory Pilgrim, Where the Tide Takes Us, Installation View at Kunstverein Braunschweig, 2021, Courtesy the artist & Kunstverein Braunschweig. Photo: Stefan Stark
Rory Pilgrim, Where the Tide Takes Us, Installation View at Kunstverein Braunschweig, 2021, Courtesy the artist & Kunstverein Braunschweig. Photo: Stefan Stark
Rory Pilgrim, Sacred Repository N. 3: The Open Sky, 2016, Installation View at Kunstverein Braunschweig, 2021, Courtesy the artist & Kunstverein Braunschweig. Photo: Stefan Stark
Rory Pilgrim, Sacred Repository N. 3: The Open Sky, 2016, Installation View at Kunstverein Braunschweig, 2021, Courtesy the artist & Kunstverein Braunschweig. Photo: Stefan Stark
Rory Pilgrim, Sacred Repository N. 2: Affection Is the Best Protection, 2014–15, Installation View at Kunstverein Braunschweig, 2021, Courtesy the artist & Kunstverein Braunschweig. Photo: Stefan Stark
Rory Pilgrim, Sacred Repository N. 2: Affection Is the Best Protection, 2014–15, Installation View at Kunstverein Braunschweig, 2021, Courtesy the artist & Kunstverein Braunschweig. Photo: Stefan Stark
Karrabing Film Collective, The Jealous One, Still, 2017, Installation View at Kunstverein Braunschweig, 2021, Courtesy the artists & Kunstverein Braunschweig. Photo: Stefan Stark
Karrabing Film Collective, The Jealous One, Still, 2017, Installation View at Kunstverein Braunschweig, 2021, Courtesy the artists & Kunstverein Braunschweig. Photo: Stefan Stark
Karrabing Film Collective, When The Dogs Talked, Still, 2014, Installation View at Kunstverein Braunschweig, 2021, Courtesy the artists & Kunstverein Braunschweig. Photo: Stefan Stark
Karrabing Film Collective, When The Dogs Talked, Still, 2014, Installation View at Kunstverein Braunschweig, 2021, Courtesy the artists & Kunstverein Braunschweig. Photo: Stefan Stark
Karrabing Film Collective, When The Dogs Talked, Still, 2014 & Mermaids, Mirror Worlds, Still, 2018, Installation View at Kunstverein Braunschweig, 2021, Courtesy the artists & Kunstverein Braunschweig. Photo: Stefan Stark
Karrabing Film Collective, Mermaids, Mirror Worlds, Still, 2018, Installation View at Kunstverein Braunschweig, 2021, Courtesy the artists & Kunstverein Braunschweig. Photo: Stefan Stark
Rory Pilgrim, Theft Reclaim I, 2021, Installation View at Kunstverein Braunschweig, 2021, Courtesy the artist & Kunstverein Braunschweig. Photo: Stefan Stark
Karrabing Film Collective & Rory Pilgrim, Where the Tide Takes Us, Installation View at Kunstverein Braunschweig, 2021, Courtesy the artists & Kunstverein Braunschweig. Photo: Stefan Stark
Rory Pilgrim, Where the Tide Takes Us, Installation View at Kunstverein Braunschweig, 2021, Courtesy the artist & Kunstverein Braunschweig. Photo: Stefan Stark
Rory Pilgrim, Where the Tide Takes Us, Installation View at Kunstverein Braunschweig, 2021, Courtesy the artist & Kunstverein Braunschweig. Photo: Stefan Stark
Karrabing Film Collective, Where the Tide Takes Us, Installation View at Kunstverein Braunschweig, 2021, Courtesy the artists & Kunstverein Braunschweig. Photo: Stefan Stark
Karrabing Film Collective, Where the Tide Takes Us, Installation View at Kunstverein Braunschweig, 2021, Courtesy the artists & Kunstverein Braunschweig. Photo: Stefan Stark
Karrabing Film Collective, Where the Tide Takes Us, Installation View at Kunstverein Braunschweig, 2021, Courtesy the artists & Kunstverein Braunschweig. Photo: Stefan Stark
Rory Pilgrim, Where the Tide Takes Us, Installation View at Kunstverein Braunschweig, 2021, Courtesy the artist & Kunstverein Braunschweig. Photo: Stefan Stark
Rory Pilgrim, Where the Tide Takes Us, Installation View at Kunstverein Braunschweig, 2021, Courtesy the artist & Kunstverein Braunschweig. Photo: Stefan Stark
Rory Pilgrim, Where the Tide Takes Us, Installation View at Kunstverein Braunschweig, 2021, Courtesy the artist & Kunstverein Braunschweig. Photo: Stefan Stark
Rory Pilgrim, Software Garden, 2018, Installation View at Kunstverein Braunschweig, 2021, Courtesy the artist & Kunstverein Braunschweig. Photo: Stefan Stark
Rory Pilgrim, Software Garden, 2018, Installation View at Kunstverein Braunschweig, 2021, Courtesy the artist & Kunstverein Braunschweig. Photo: Stefan Stark
Karrabing Film Collective, Where the Tide Takes Us, Installation View at Kunstverein Braunschweig, 2021, Courtesy the artists & Kunstverein Braunschweig. Photo: Stefan Stark
Karrabing Film Collective, Night Time Go, 2017, Installation View at Kunstverein Braunschweig, 2021, Courtesy the artists & Kunstverein Braunschweig. Photo: Stefan Stark
Rory Pilgrim, Where the Tide Takes Us, Installation View at Kunstverein Braunschweig, 2021, Courtesy the artist & Kunstverein Braunschweig. Photo: Stefan Stark
Rory Pilgrim, Untited, 2021, Installation View at Kunstverein Braunschweig, 2021, Courtesy the artists & Kunstverein Braunschweig. Photo: Stefan Stark
Karrabing Film Collective, Day in the Life, 2020, Installation View at Kunstverein Braunschweig, 2021, Courtesy the artists & Kunstverein Braunschweig. Photo: Stefan Stark
Karrabing Film Collective, Day in the Life, 2020, Installation View at Kunstverein Braunschweig, 2021, Courtesy the artists & Kunstverein Braunschweig. Photo: Stefan Stark
Rory Pilgrim, Where the Tide Takes Us, Installation View at Kunstverein Braunschweig, 2021, Courtesy the artist & Kunstverein Braunschweig. Photo: Stefan Stark
Rory Pilgrim, Where the Tide Takes Us, Installation View at Kunstverein Braunschweig, 2021, Courtesy the artist & Kunstverein Braunschweig. Photo: Stefan Stark
Rory Pilgrim, The Undercurrent, 2019, Installation View at Kunstverein Braunschweig, 2021, Courtesy the artists & Andriesse Eyck Galerie. Photo: Stefan Stark
Rory Pilgrim, Where the Tide Takes Us, Installation View at Kunstverein Braunschweig, 2021, Courtesy the artist & Kunstverein Braunschweig. Photo: Stefan Stark
Rory Pilgrim, Rocovery, 2021, Installation View at Kunstverein Braunschweig, 2021, Courtesy the artist & Kunstverein Braunschweig. Photo: Stefan Stark
