Birgit Jürgenssen

Place: Vienna

Born: 1949

Death: 2003

Biography:

Birgit Jürgenssen was an Austrian photographer, painter, graphic artist, curator and teacher who specialized in feminine body art with self-portraits and photo series. She was born in Vienna, Austria in 1949 and passed away in 2003. Birgit Jürgenssen is recognized as one of the "outstanding international representatives of the feminist avant-garde".

Early Life and Education

Jürgenssen studied at the University of Applied Arts Vienna between 1968 and 1971. She first gained attention for her photography with her participation in the MAGNA-Feminismus: Kunst und Kreativität (MAGNA feminism: art and creativity) exhibition.

Artistic Style and Works

From the late 1960s, Jürgenssen developed her diverse photographic art forms which revolved around the female body and its transformation. Her works present femininity forms created by photographs, which demarcate the external cultural codes within the framework of the prevalent repressive and frequently restrictive nature of a woman's life. Some of her notable works include 10 Days – 100 Photos, published in 1980, which consists of self-portraits with face excluded or camouflaged by fur, in Polaroids and photographs set in an asymmetrically fashion with interjections of a few lines of narrative.

Teaching and Curatorial Work

Jürgenssen worked as a lecturer and curator at the University of Applied Arts Vienna and the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna. Her estate, managed by Hubert Winter, includes a wide mosaic of drawings, watercolor paintings, photogrammes, screens, solar graphics, and objects from various collections.

Legacy and Impact

Jürgenssen's photographic works, numbering 250, were exhibited in a retrospective held by the Sammlung Verbund and the Bank Austria Art Forum; 50 of these works are exclusively exhibited by the Sammlung Verbund, Vienna. Her work has been recognized as a significant contribution to the feminist avant-garde, and her legacy continues to inspire artists and art enthusiasts alike.

• For more information on Birgit Jürgenssen's works, visit https://Wikioo.org/@/Birgit-Jurgenssen
• Read about other notable artists at https://Wikioo.org/Art.nsf/O/93PVF3

and self-portraits are key elements in Jürgenssen's work, which often explored the relationship between the female body and societal expectations. Her use of photography as a medium allowed her to challenge traditional representations of women and create a new visual language. Jürgenssen passed away on 11 September 2003 at the age of 54, but her legacy continues to be celebrated through her works and contributions to the art world.