For artists, travel has been an integral part of their lives since at least the modern era. But is that still the case? What themes do artists focus on today? And what does travel look like against the backdrop of pandemics, natural disasters, nationalism, and political conflicts?

The exhibition The Tide is High at the Kunsthaus Wiesbaden explored these and other current questions. It marked the kickoff of the 30th anniversary of the Hessian Cultural Foundation’s fellowship program, which was celebrated with a program of exhibitions and events.

In cooperation with five cultural institutions in Hesse, the program presented selected artistic works by the more than 200 scholarship recipients to date in thematic group exhibitions centered on the theme of travel. The program was complemented by a panel discussion at the Hessian State Representation in Berlin, which addressed the question of contemporary artist support.

The Tide is High presented works by the 16 artists of the current cycle, who were at various stages of their residencies. While some were still working on-site in their studios in New York, Istanbul, or Paris, others had already completed their residencies in Poland, Japan, or Malta, or were just beginning them. The exhibition was conceived as a review and showcased both the results of the travel and work residencies as well as a selection of works from the individual artists’ previous bodies of work.

In their works, the fellows explored questions of geographical and ecological characteristics, engaged with local events and traditions, or addressed the feeling of rootlessness. At the same time, the works reflect aspects of connection with friends and family that extend across national borders. The question of how cultural experiences are inscribed in the body or can be translated into a work of art was also a central theme of the exhibition. Navigating the tension between cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation, ecological
footprints, travel restrictions, and political and cultural conflicts, the 16 artists discovered new perspectives or grappled with resistance.
The exhibition was complemented by a supporting program.

Further information can be found at www.hkst.de

The Tide is High is a collaboration between the Kunsthaus Wiesbaden, the Wiesbaden Cultural Office, and the Hessian Cultural Foundation.