Curator’s introduction to ‘Darwin in Paradise Camp: Yuki Kihara’ at the Sainsbury Centre

Did Darwin deceive us? Darwin in Paradise Camp: Yuki Kihara highlights research suggesting key findings on non-heteronormative species and same-sex attraction were tweaked to conform to 19^th century morality. Hear about the exhibition, from its curator, Tania Moore, Head of Exhibitions at the Sainsbury Centre, in this video.

The exhibition features the UK premiere of Paradise Camp (2022), a photographic series first presented at the Aotearoa New Zealand Pavilion in the 59th Venice Biennale in 2022, alongside original works by Paul Gauguin and a newly commissioned video work, Darwin Drag (2025).

Kihara’s practice is rooted in archival research and draws attention to the detrimental effects of climate change in the Pacific Islands. Responsible for less than 0.02% of global greenhouse gas emissions, Pacific Islanders’ proximity to the sea means they are amongst the most vulnerable to changing weather conditions. In particular, Kihara highlights the impacts of climate change on Sāmoa’s most vulnerable inhabitants: the third gender communities Fa’afatama and Fa’afafine, to which the artist also belongs.

Darwin in Paradise Camp: Yuki Kihara is part of a six-month season of interlinked exhibitions and events that explore the question Can the Seas Survive Us? and runs until 3 August.