Cultural agitator & former manager of the independent art space FORDE (2012-2014). Artistic director of GET A NERVE, the alternative art fair in parallel to Artgenève (2019-2020). Curator of HOME OF TMF, a space dedicated to happenings, interactive installations and performances in Geneva (2020-2021).

Freely mixing activism, curation and sociology, the art, messages and actions created by Elena Montesinos transmit a rather genuine clear-sighted energy to whoever feels like having a closer look at this impressive body of work.

Since three decades, The Montesinos Federation (TMF) keeps buzzing through performances, actions in the public space, electronic music, appropriation art and existentialism.

E-mail : wearetmf@protonmail.com

AWARDS

2021 : +35y Artist Award, City of Geneva and FMAC Commission, Geneva
2018 : Act-Art Federation, Geneva
2001 : Geneva Council Grant and Residency in Schönhauser, Berlin
2000 : Lissignol-Chevalier-Galland Grant, Geneva
1999 : Manor Kunstpreis, Geneva
1998 : Swiss Art Award

EVENTS

2022

NEVER GATE, a psychoactive movie by Elena Montesinos & JD Schneider, 18′, Eurotrash with English subtitles – World premiere @ LUFF 2022, Lausanne

VIRTUAL FANTAISIES, augmented reality works inserted in the contemporary art exhibition “Renegotiation” at Cimetière des Rois, Geneva

2021

BVR-REDUX, public workshop with That Girl during BIM 21, Centre d’Art Contemporain, Geneva

DEC 17TH, window performance as That Girl featuring The Wild Panthers and Nagi Gianni’s mask. Curated by Art au Centre in conjunction with Aspasie and Planet 22, Geneva

PAY ME A VISIT, Swiss coin mosaic being composed live, on the ground. Window performance at TOPIC art space, curated by A. Marzullo and D. Bernardi, Geneva

ARTIST TALK with D. Pernet at Art Basel for the Swiss Art Awards 2021, invited by Pro Helvetia. Talk and performance all-in-one at Pro Helvetia’s booth, Basel

EXTRA MUROS XXXXX “Au pied du mur” (Too Much Fun), Seedbombs happening with DIE UNKRAUT BOTSCHAFT, Home of TMF, Geneva

# EXCUSE MY FRENCH, online performance at the Maison des Arts du Grütli Studio, curated by B. Giongo and N. Sugnaux, GO GO GO Festival, Le Grütli, Centre de production des Arts Vivants, Geneva

2020

BONFIRE OF POVERTY, annual performance turned into a personal flashmob this year, curated by TMF, Geneva

MEGAWIN (Three Miraculous Funds), window video installation group show and lucky draw, curated by the artist, Home of TMF, Geneva

UCHIGAWA (The Misfits Fortress), group show and opening of the new art space run by the artist, member of the Collectif O.P.O. aka Oeil pour Oeil (L. Gabriel, W. Gaze, E. Montesinos, Séni) who curated the group show, Home of TMF, Geneva

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ARTWORKS

LIBERTAS LIBERTAS, UNRELEASED, BONFIRE OF POVERTY, MAXIMA LVX, SERVEZ-VOUS, PA-PA-PAP-PAP, DIE UNKRAUT BOTSCHAFT, THIS IS NOT A LOVE SONG, ANTI, YOUTRIBE, YOU WIN, COUNTERFEIT FOR PAGANS, GOLDEN SHOWER, ARMAGEDDON, PIMP MY RIDE, XXX, SAFT, HAPPY MONDAY, ALIEN NATION, ERRATUM, DOMINUS PROVIDEBIT, HOW TO BUILD AN EMPIRE, BORDERLINE, PICKPOCKETS, ARM WRESTLING, INFINITY, FORTUNA, SOUND OF THE SYSTEM, GENERATION X, OIL OIL OIL, TMF STATIONERY, IN LOVING MEMORY, NUMBER OF THE BEAST, I WALK THE LINE, THE PARANORMALS, CAMO SOUND, 15 MINUTES OF SHAME, HUMAN RIGHTS KARAOKE, LOVE IT

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THAT GIRL

Virtual alter-ego on social medias

That Girl is Elena Montesinos virtual alter-ego performing and interacting on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and SoundCloud.

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Music and sound projects

Elena Montesinos performs “irritainment” music with the weirdest low-fi to hi-fi technologies under various nicknames and disguises.

2022

NEVER GATE, a psychoactive movie by Elena Montesinos & JD Schneider, 18′, Eurotrash with English subtitles – World premiere @ LUFF 2022

AN EVENING WITH THAT GIRL AND THE HOMIES, video mashup and closing party with Maudite and Kebab Injection! Starring: Nathanael Esh, Timothy Leighton, That Girl, Lea Pohlhammer, Sanctus Povitch. GO GO GO Festival, Le Grütli, Geneva

2021

MESSAGE IN A MACHINE, a dystopop track produced for Joyfully Waiting with Dr.Reverso, invited by N. Rebholz. Scroll down this page to listen.

THAT GIRL IS STRANGE, live mix broadcast, invited by Nut-Nut TV, Case à Chocs, Neuchâtel

2020

BIRTHDAY BASH, That Girl’s birthday mix at Bongo Joe for Résiliences Sonores, broadcasted on Radio Vostok

THAT GIRL AT MOTEL RADIO, live broadcast on July 23rd, Motel Campo, Geneva

GET A NERVE! – IN THE HOUSE, Jeff Mills TR-909 surprise live headphone performance curated by TMF around Villa Sarasin, Geneva

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