This winter, THG presents two immersive film installations by international artist Mikhail Karikis: Children of Unquiet 2014 and SeaWomen 2012.

The works share the experience of two very different communities; fisherwomen from the 'haenyeo' community on Jeju island, Korea, and children brought up by the geothermal powerplant in Devil’s Valley, Tuscany. Both communities have a unique relationship to their environment which is rich in natural resources. As processes of extraction evolve, this way of life is increasingly threatened. Through sounds of labour and community, Karikis encourages thinking around legacy, resistance and possible sustainable futures, across the generations. 

SeaWomen, 2012

Ocean, Queens Drive, Exmouth EX8 2AY oceanexmouth.co.uk, Tuesday - Saturday, 10 - 5.

This audio-visual installation captures the experience of a 'haenyeo' woman’s day at sea: diving deep from the rocks; selling and sharing their catch; returning from the depths to their coastal base and sorting their nets.

The 'haenyeo' are an ancient and fast-vanishing community who dive to depths of up to twenty meters with no oxygen supply to catch seafood, collect seaweed and find pearls.

The audio scenes include a rhythmic rowing work-song; the reverberant hubbub of the women’s communal baths, a sudden violent thunderstorm and the 'sumbisori'. The 'sumbisori' is the striking high-pitched and dolphin-like whistling noises of the diving women’s traditional breathing technique. This soundscape, along with the women’s profession are on the verge of disappearance.

• Children of Unquiet (2013-14) 

Thelma Hulbert Gallery, Honiton - more details

Mikhail Karikis is a Greek/British artist based in London and Lisbon. His work in moving image, sound, performance and other media is exhibited in leading contemporary art biennials, museums including the TATE and Whitechapel Gallery, and film festivals internationally. Karikis' varied practice encompasses video, installation, performance and sound. Increasingly, the artist has been using film as a way to ‘contain, capture, document and explore’ auditory culture. Of particular interest to Karikis are anarchic nonsense sounds – whistles, shouts, hisses and sighs – that are beyond the rules of ordinary verbal communication. 

Delivered in partnership with Arts and Culture, University of Exeter and Leisure East Devon. Supported by East Devon District Council and Arts Council England

This exhibition has been supported with loans from the Arts Council Collection. Founded in 1946, the Arts Council Collection is the UK’s most widely circulated loan collection of modern and contemporary British art and includes important examples by all of the UK’s prominent artists. For more information please see: www.artscouncilcollection.org.uk

 © Mikhail Karikis