Raul Ortega Ayala
Associate Head of School; Senior Lecturer, Whiti o Rehua School of Art
Raul Ortega Ayala is a Mexican born artist whose practice often relates to Anthropology. His work stems from extensive research into specific topics for long periods of time and often uses different anthropological methods (like participant observation, fieldwork or embodiment of knowledge) to actively immerse himself into his selected topic. His research has encompassed a variety of issues that go from our contemporary relationship with work, the world of plants, natural cycles and sustainability and an exploration of food beyond its primarily bodily sustenance; He has worked in a variety of mediums like film, painting, photography, grafting, botanical illustration, fragrance construction, sonograms, sculpture and happenings to name a few. He is currently working on a large project that explores the phenomenon of Collective Memory and Social Amnesia.
He teaches in the fine art undergrad and postgraduate programmes and as an artist has exhibited internationally in venues like the The Frans Hals museum, David Roberts Foundation, Delfina Foundation, the Barbican Centre, Liverpool Biennial, Stroom, Arp Museum, Geementemuseum and Museo Jumex amongst others. His work is represented by Proyectos Monclova in Mexico and Durst Britt and Mayhew gallery in the Netherlands.
