The Power Plant

In conjunction with Beat Nation, artists included in the exhibition will participate in a series of conversations with key curators based in Toronto. They will discuss aspects of the artist’s practice as well as transformations to institutional and curatorial models that explore Aboriginal artistic practices.

Multi-disciplinary artist Kent Monkman discusses his acclaimed practice in conversation with curator Steven Loft. Together, Loft and Monkman will discuss the artist’s practice and inquiries into the representation and recontextualization of Aboriginal traditions.

Loft is a Mohawk of the Six Nations with Jewish heritage. A curator, scholar, writer and media artist, he was named Trudeau National Visiting Fellow at Ryerson University in 2010, where he is continuing his research into Indigenous art and aesthetics. Loft has held positions as Curator-In-Residence, Indigenous Art at the National Gallery of Canada (2008 – 2010); Director/Curator of the Urban Shaman Gallery, Winnipeg(2002 – 2008); Aboriginal Curator at the Art Gallery of Hamilton (2000 – 2002); and Producer and Artistic Director of the Native Indian/Inuit Photographers’ Association (1993 – 1998).

Monkman’s work spans a variety of media including painting, film/video, installation and performances. He has had solo exhibitions at numerous Canadian museums including the Montréal Museum of Fine Art (2009), the Winnipeg Art Gallery (2008), the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art, Toronto (2007), and the Art Gallery of Hamilton (2007). His award-winning short film and video works have been screened at various international festivals, including the Berlinale (2007 and 2008), and the Toronto International Film Festival (2007). He is represented by Pierre-Francois Ouellette Art Contemporain, Montréal; Galerie Florent Tosin, Berlin; and Trepanier, Baer, Calgary.

Co-presented with

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