For the third time, Haus der Kunst's Capsule exhibitions give young, international emerging artists the opportunity to present new works. The Capsule format provides each artist with an autonomous exhibition space.

The Portuguese artist duo João Maria Gusmão (born 1979) and Pedro Paiva (born 1977) has developed a magical and mysterious oeuvre over the past 15 years, which includes films, photographs, sculptures, and camera-obscura-installations. Recorded on 16-mm celluloid film, their works show physical experiments, processes of nature, and episodes of everyday life, mostly combined with the mysterious or poetic-philosophical: an endlessly rotating water mill ("Water Mill", 2012 ), or a turkey standing in front of a landscape picking grains ("Cassowary", 2010). In "Fried Egg" (2008), one of their most known films, you can see how an egg is fried. The living fish in "Cowfish" (2011), lying on a plate, gasping for air and flapping its fins, seems as it could succeed at any moment the impossible act of taking off and flying away. The scenes depicted question our ability to see, and remain mysteries that appeal to our imagination and our ability to dream.

João Maria Gusmão & Pedro Paiva. Installation view, Haus der Kunst, 2016. Photo: Maximilian Geuter
João Maria Gusmão & Pedro Paiva. Installation view, Haus der Kunst, 2016. Photo: Maximilian Geuter
João Maria Gusmão & Pedro Paiva. Installation view, Haus der Kunst, 2016. Photo: Maximilian Geuter
João Maria Gusmão & Pedro Paiva. Installation view, Haus der Kunst, 2016. Photo: Maximilian Geuter
João Maria Gusmão & Pedro Paiva. Installation view, Haus der Kunst, 2016. Photo: Maximilian Geuter
João Maria Gusmão & Pedro Paiva. Installation view, Haus der Kunst, 2016. Photo: Maximilian Geuter
João Maria Gusmão & Pedro Paiva. Installation view, Haus der Kunst, 2016. Photo: Maximilian Geuter
João Maria Gusmão & Pedro Paiva. Installation view, Haus der Kunst, 2016. Photo: Maximilian Geuter
João Maria Gusmão & Pedro Paiva. Installation view, Haus der Kunst, 2016. Photo: Maximilian Geuter
João Maria Gusmão & Pedro Paiva. Installation view, Haus der Kunst, 2016. Photo: Maximilian Geuter
João Maria Gusmão & Pedro Paiva. Installation view, Haus der Kunst, 2016. Photo: Maximilian Geuter
João Maria Gusmão & Pedro Paiva. Installation view, Haus der Kunst, 2016. Photo: Maximilian Geuter
Mating season, 2016 © João Maria Gusmão & Pedro Paiva Courtesy of the artists and Galeria Fortes Vilaça, São Paulo; Galeria Graça Brandão, Lisboa; Sies + Höke, Düsseldorf; ZERO …, Milano
Mating season, 2016 © João Maria Gusmão & Pedro Paiva Courtesy of the artists and Galeria Fortes Vilaça, São Paulo; Galeria Graça Brandão, Lisboa; Sies + Höke, Düsseldorf; ZERO …, Milano
Wave, 2011 © João Maria Gusmão & Pedro Paiva Courtesy of the artists and Galeria Fortes Vilaça, São Paulo; Galeria Graça Brandão, Lisboa; Sies + Höke, Düsseldorf; ZERO …, Milano
Wave, 2011 © João Maria Gusmão & Pedro Paiva Courtesy of the artists and Galeria Fortes Vilaça, São Paulo; Galeria Graça Brandão, Lisboa; Sies + Höke, Düsseldorf; ZERO …, Milano
João Maria Gusmão & Pedro Paiva The horse of the prophet (detail), 2011. Produced by Frac Île-de-France/Le Plateau, Paris in collaboration with Lamu Palm Oil Factory, Kenya. Courtesy of the artists and Galeria Fortes Vilaça, São Paulo; Galeria Graça Brandão, Lisbon; Sies + Höke, Düsseldorf; ZERO …, Milan. © João Maria Gusmão & Pedro Paiva.
João Maria Gusmão & Pedro Paiva The horse of the prophet (detail), 2011. Produced by Frac Île-de-France/Le Plateau, Paris in collaboration with Lamu Palm Oil Factory, Kenya. Courtesy of the artists and Galeria Fortes Vilaça, São Paulo; Galeria Graça Brandão, Lisbon; Sies + Höke, Düsseldorf; ZERO …, Milan. © João Maria Gusmão & Pedro Paiva.
Peacock (nue), 2016 © João Maria Gusmão & Pedro Paiva Courtesy of the artists and Galeria Fortes Vilaça, São Paulo; Galeria Graça Brandão, Lisboa; Sies + Höke, Düsseldorf; ZERO …, Milano
Peacock (nue), 2016 © João Maria Gusmão & Pedro Paiva Courtesy of the artists and Galeria Fortes Vilaça, São Paulo; Galeria Graça Brandão, Lisboa; Sies + Höke, Düsseldorf; ZERO …, Milano