The Repatriates Collective has launched 'Tide of Returns' at Ocean Space in Venice, an exhibition that redefines repatriation as a continuous process of spiritual and communal repair rather than a singular legal transaction. Set within the historic Church of San Lorenzo, the installation features immersive works such as 'From My Mother’s Country,' which utilizes thousands of handmade dolls from Namibia, and Verena Melgarejo Weinandt’s textile and video works exploring the symbolic power of water and braiding.
This exhibition is significant for shifting the discourse on restitution away from institutional bureaucracy toward indigenous knowledge and ritual. By utilizing a venue deeply tied to Venice’s history of trade and empire, the project highlights how the return of cultural heritage involves the reactivation of ancient traditions and the healing of intergenerational ruptures caused by displacement.