Controversial et al wins $50,000

By LINDA HERRICK

The controversy over the art "collective" known as et al. is certain to flare up again with last night's announcement that "they" have won this year's $50,000 Walters Prize.

Et al., the Auckland artist whose name is Merilyn Tweedie, proved a popular win when New York curator Robert Storr revealed his choice at a dinner for 170 guests at the Auckland Art Gallery.

Et al., who has never given an interview in her 20-year career and refuses to be photographed, received the prize for Restricted Access, an eery installation dealing with the baggage of art criticism and outmoded technology.

It also parodies amateur critics - such as Paul Holmes and Act MP Deborah Coddington - who have attacked Creative New Zealand's decision to send et al. to represent New Zealand at next year's Venice Biennale.

A member of the et al. collective accepted the prize on Tweedie's behalf, although she was at the dinner.

Storr, a former senior curator at the Museum of Modern Art and the Rosalee Solow Professor of Modern Art at New York University Institute of Fine Arts, has long been active in judging contemporary arts awards.

The three remaining finalists - Ronnie van Hout, Jacqueline Fraser and Daniel von Sturmer - each receive $5000.