Lorenza Böttner

Lorenza B%C3%B6ttner 1959 1994

Lorenza Böttner (1959 – 1994) was a transdisciplinary artist known for her work in performance art, painting, and photography. Born in Punta Arenas, Chile, Böttner lost both arms in an accident at the age of eight. Her art often explored themes of body, identity, and gender, challenging societal norms and the representation of disabled bodies in art.

Early Life and Education

Lorenza Böttner was born Ernst Lorenz Böttner in 1959 in Punta Arenas, Chile. After losing her arms due to an electrical accident, she moved to Germany with her family, where she underwent rehabilitation and learned to paint with her mouth and feet. Böttner later attended the University of Fine Arts of Hamburg, where she began to develop her unique artistic voice, focusing on performance art, painting, and photography.

Artistic Career

Böttner's work is characterized by its exploration of the fluidity of gender and the defiance of normative representations of the body. She often performed in public spaces, using her body as a canvas to question and confront societal perceptions of disability and gender. Her performances were marked by a playful yet poignant critique of the ways in which disabled and transgender bodies are seen and understood.

In addition to performance art, Böttner created a significant body of paintings and photographs. She used her feet and mouth to paint, producing works that were vibrant and expressive. Her photographs often featured herself in various guises and costumes, further complicating and challenging fixed identities.

Legacy

Lorenza Böttner's work has been posthumously recognized for its contribution to contemporary art and its critical engagement with issues of disability, gender, and identity. Her art has been exhibited internationally, contributing to a growing recognition of the importance of disabled artists in the broader art historical narrative.

Böttner's life and work challenge the boundaries of what is considered "normal" and "able-bodied," offering a powerful testament to the capacity of art to transform perceptions of the body and identity. Her legacy continues to inspire artists and activists, contributing to ongoing conversations about inclusivity, representation, and the politics of the body in contemporary art.

See Also

• Performance art
• Gender in art
• Disability in the arts