The ocean now?

Alex Monteith’s works explore the political dimensions of culture in turmoil over land ownership, history and occupation. She is working on a series of artworks focused on bodies of water that evince tensions both historical and natural. These have included an ongoing series on the Rena Disaster (2011-current) in Aotearoa, and a series of work focused on Te Mimi o Tū Te Rakiwhānoa (Fiordland Coastal Marine Area) in relation to recent archaeological history in Aotearoa. Other works traverse political movements, contemporary sports, culture and social activities and projects often taking place in large-scale or extreme geographies. She is also a member of the collective Local Time (Alex Monteith, Danny Butt, Jon Bywater, Natalie Robertson). Local Time has been named as a collective since 2007, usually working in collaboration with maintainers of local knowledge in specific sites, and engaging in debates concerning colonial histories and cross-cultural exchange through art projects, contemporary art teaching and critical writing. Alex is a some-time political and environmental activist.

Exhibitions have included a survey exhibition at the Govett Brewster Art Gallery 2012, and a solo exhibition at MMK Frankfurt, Germany, 2012. Alex was a recipient of the Arts Foundation of New Zealand New Generation Award (2008), and a Walters Prize finalist (2010). She is currently a senior lecturer at the Elam School of Fine Arts, the University of Auckland, Aotearoa, having held prior lecturing positions at AUT (2006) and MIT (2007‐08).

Image: Osecours
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