Artist

Maria Thereza Alves

Born in São Paulo, 1961 and lives in Berlin, Germany

Maria Thereza Alves bases her work on the idea that the cultivated soil in both industrialized and in developing countries is covered to a large extent by plant life that has migrated or been introduced from the outside. This development will continue as it is estimated that over a billion people will migrate from rural to urban areas in the next 20 years. In her work, Alves is less interested in the consequences of such a shift for the ecosystem; she focuses instead on the “local” stock of plants and seeds – frequently found in the vicinity of large construction sites – which she then plants in greenhouses. Her experiments show that the seeds can survive as “sleepers” for decades after having been thrown away by travelers or traders. Using this data, she reconstructs the historical developments and migratory processes which condition the occurrence of specific exotic plant seeds in Berlin.

Exhibitions
Exhibitions
Maria Thereza Alves
Michel Rein Galerie in Paris presents a solo show by Maria Thereza Alves
15 Oct 2022 - 26 Nov 2022
Michel Rein
Paris
Exhibitions
Rethinking Nature
Over 40 Italian and international artists and collectives from 22 countries come together to reflect the role of contemporary art practice in addressing our environmental challenges.
17 Dec 2021 - 02 May 2022
Museo MADRE
Naples
Exhibitions
Extractive Zones
Museum der Kulturen Basel showcases a group exhibition investigating how human relations are changing...
02 Jul 2021 - 17 Oct 2021
Museum der Kulturen Basel
Basel
Exhibitions
Echoes of the Forest
Presented by Venice Gardens Foundation
19 May 2021 - 05 Jun 2021
Serra dei Giardini
Venice
Exhibitions
Potential Worlds 1: Planetary Memories
Collective exhibition exploring the relationship between humans and nature
07 Mar 2020 - 11 Oct 2020
Migros Museum für Gegenwartskunst
Zurich
Exhibitions
A Queda do Céu
Curated by Moacir dos Anjos, the exhibition presents side by side a series of artworks and historical...
10 Apr 2015 - 05 Jul 2015
Paço das Artes
São Paulo
Exhibitions
Garden of Earthly Delights
Gathering works from over 20 international artists using the space of the garden as a metaphor for the...
26 Jul 2019 - 01 Dec 2019
Berlin
Art Spaces
Michel Rein
Galleries in Paris
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