Exhibitionists·Video

In concrete and copper, Caroline Monnet pays tribute to Indigenous resilience

Her sculptural installation "Shield" includes a series of 11 concrete bodies encircling a copper pipe — unbreakable.

Her sculptural installation includes a series of 11 concrete bodies encircling a copper pipe — unbreakable

Caroline Monnet. (CBC Arts)

Caroline Monnet is the kind of artist that does it all — she's a filmmaker, a sculptor, a painter and the list goes on. And this year, she created a new installation for the Insurgence/Resurgence exhibition at the Winnipeg Art Gallery.

Watch the video:

Insurgence/Resurgence: Caroline Monnet

7 years ago
Duration 3:01
Caroline Monnet explains her piece at the Winnipeg Art Gallery.

Her piece Shield is a manifestation of the resilience of Indigenous peoples. It includes a series of 11 concrete bodies encircling a copper pipe — unbreakable.

As Monnet explains in this video, her choice of materials is inextricable from the way she sees Indigenous strength — and her theory that resilience may be written into DNA.

Caroline Monnet's "Shield" sculpture. (CBC Arts)
There's been so much trauma and hardship in our history. How come we're still there and we're still able to have humour and laugh and be present, today more than ever? Is resilience a part of our protective shield?- Caroline Monnet, artist

See Caroline Monnet's Shield as part of Insurgence/Resurgence until April 22.

Caroline Monnet at work. (CBC Arts)
Detail of Caroline Monnet's "Shield" sculpture. (CBC Arts)

This series of Insurgence/Resurgence artist profiles is a collaboration between CBC Arts and CBC Indigenous. Check out the other videos here.

Watch CBC Arts: Exhibitionists online or on CBC Television. Tune in Friday nights at 11:30pm (12am NT) and Sundays at 3:30pm (4pm NT).