Do Rocks Listen? is a solo exhibition by the Karrabing Film Collective, a grassroots Indigenous media group, based in Australia’s Northern Territory, who create films and art installations as a way to analyze contemporary settler colonialism, and through these depictions, challenge its grip. Their films employ a highly inventive cinematic language that provokes disorientation and (mis)understandings of the multileveled worlds in which Indigenous Australian families dwell.
Do Rocks Listen? presents the first comprehensive survey of the Karrabing Film Collective’s films in Asia, by converting the ICA’s gallery into a microcinema and via virtual screenings online. The exhibition is organized into four screening series. The first is composed of their three earliest films, also known as the “Intervention Trilogy,” which stage the everyday lives of Indigenous families under competing demands from their ancestral presents and a settler colonial state. The second “Real But Got Story” series brings two films together as speculative storytellings that exemplify the Collective’s self-described method of “improvisational realism.” The third “Future Present” series introduces an exploration of dystopian science fiction and soundscapes, which are nevertheless grounded in present day realities. The fourth series, “How We Make Karrabing,” features more recent micro films that reflect on the origins, meaning, and purpose of the Karrabing Film Collective.
For a complete schedule of onsite screenings (ICA gallery), scroll down to “Documents” below and refer to the “Program Guide”.
For virtual screenings (online), please register for the exhibition to receive a private link. Films will be made available by series, every three weeks, with the exception of “How We Make Karrabing” which will be available to view throughout the exhibition period.
14 October–18 December / “How We Make Karrabing” series
14 October–4 November / "Intervention Trilogy" series
5–26 November / "Real But Got Story" series
27 November-18 December / "Future Present" series
Do Rocks Listen? are accompanied by related events, including:
COMPOST LAUNCH
a conversation with Zian Chen, Jow Jiun Gong, May Adadol Ingawanij, and Kun Xian Shen
- Sat, 23 October, 16–18:00 UTC+8 - online
- Chinese and English (with simultaneous interpretation)
ARTIST TALK
- Sat, 27 November, 16:00-17:30 (UTC+8) - online
STUDY SESSIONS
As with every season, instead of tours, the ICA will host Study Sessions as guided conversations, based on curious exploration, critical reflection, and collective meaning making. Each Study Session follows immediately after the scheduled screening time for the series on which it will focus.
- Wed, 27 October, 12:50 (“Intervention Trilogy)
- Fri, 19 November, 13:55 (“Real But Got Story”)
- Fri, 10 December, 12:05 (“Future Present”)
All Study Sessions are held in person at the ICA gallery. Participants may screen the films on their own (onsite or online) before the study sessions.
Registration is required for all events.
Scroll down to “Related” below for more information on each event.
If you encounter any difficulties using the registration form, please refresh your browser or try a different browser, or email shanghai.ica@nyu.edu with your name, phone number, and intended date and time of your visit.
Do Rocks Listen? an exhibition by Karrabing Film Collective and related events are presented as the first season of Another Knowledge Is Possible (2021-23), a biennial artistic research program organized by the ICA at NYU Shanghai. From Fall 2021 through Spring 2023, the ICA will explore other knowledges that have been neglected or repressed and ask if it is possible for a deep decolonization of thought to reclaim these ways of knowing?
Do Rocks Listen? an exhibition by Karrabing Film Collective, is organized by Michelle Yeonho Hyun with Zhu Sicong and Bao Yang, and assisted by Chen Yindi, Cui Yiheng, Mia Fan, Gu Weiwei, Li Chenglin, Lin Dianyu, and Wang Danni. Special thanks to Zian Chen, Beth Povinelli, and Bob Zhang for their support. We are most deeply grateful to the artists.
Design by The Exercises / Lu Liang and Selina Landis.
