The Elusive Tribes of Patagonia

Originally a missionary, German-born Martin Gusinde (1886-1969) was also active as a cultural anthropologist and for extended periods between 1918 and 1924 resided in Tierra del Fuego, the archipelago at the southern tip of South America’s Patagonia region. His photographs of the time record the area’s indigenous peoples: the Selk’nam, the Yamana and the Alakalufe, who were later driven to extinction. Clad in animal hides and facemasks, bodies covered in ritual markings, their impressive appearance presents valuable insights into their culture and way of life. This showing marks the start of a worldwide touring exhibition timed to coincide with the publication of Gusinde’s photographic collection, Martin Gusinde: Selk’nam, Yamana & Alakaluf de Tierra del Fuego.

The exhibition venue is the Paper Tube Pavilion, a project realized by the Kyoto University of Art and Design in collaboration with world-renowned architect and winner of the prestigious Pritzker Prize, Shigeru Ban.