Bettina Flitner - Pictures, Art, Photography

Bettina Flitner

Background Information about Bettina Flitner

Introduction

Poetic passages

Bettina Flitner’s series “Boatpeople” put a unique object centre stage: a traditional Burmese boat. The photographer bought the wooden fishing boat at Inle Lake, situated on a plateau high in the Shan Hills along the Chinese border, and transported it to Cologne, where it sits on the Rhine. Filtner photographs a broad range of personalities and groups aboard the craft – including managers, nuns, and transvestites – creating a poetic, calming and humorous procession. The people appear to be on a journey of discovery, moving along the current of life. Self-aware and in distinctive poses, they are the lead actors in theatrical arrangements. We curiously and affectionately speculate about the people’s identities, and we sense the photographer’s joy in telling their stories.

Flitner draws cleverly from the genres of film and photography for her works. She uses her experience as an editor and director to ensure these remarkable projects produce powerful narrative moments. What begins as an idea becomes, through image composition, props, and the choice of distinctive subjects, a harmonious work of art.

Christina Wendenburg

Bio

1961Born in Cologne, Germany
Editor at WDR, Germany
1986-1992Studied at Deutschen Film- und Fernsehakademie, Berlin, Germany
1989-presentProfessional Photographer

Exhibitions

2011Muscarelle Museum of Art, Williamsburg, USA
Frauenmuseum Wiesbaden, Germany
2011Ich bin ein Berliner, Dezer Schauhalle, Miami, USA
In Between Days/ Von Frauenberg Art Gallery, Düsseldorf
Kernfragen, Haus am Kleistpark, Berlin
ABC of Painting, Galerie Schuster, Berlin
2010Malerei, Galerie Dr. messner, Trossingen
Berliner Salon, Europäischer Kunsthof Ficht, Aachen
Art Fair 21 Köln, Galerie Schuster, Köln
2009Scope New York, Galerie Schuster, New York, USA
2008Scope Miami, Galerie Schusten, Miami, USA
2007Arcadia, Tactile Bosch, Cardiff, UK
Salty Tears, Frederik Foert Galerie, Berlin
Scope Miami, Galerie Schuster, Miami, USA
2006The fine art of separating people from their money, Frederik Foert Galerie, Berlin
Art Peking – Frederik Foert Galerie
Art Fair Köln, Art Karlsruhe, Galerie Kreuzer + Roy, Heimbach
2005Time Zones, Krings Ernst Galerie, Köln
Cars and Races, Frederik Foert Galerie, Berlin
2004Pintura, Galeria Fabio Penacall, Salvador, Brasilien
2011Muscarelle Museum of Art, Williamsburg, USA
Frauenmuseum Wiesbaden, Germany
2009Urania, Berlin, Germany
2007Biblioteca National, Madrid, Spain
Tour&Taxis, Brussels, Belgium
2005Tampere Art Museum, Tampere, Finland
2004Swiss Re, Munich, Germany
2003Frauenmuseum Wiesbaden, Loeper, Germany
2002Museum für Kommunikation, Berlin, Germany
2001-2002Museum of Contemporary Art, Taipeh, Taiwan
2001Ich bin stolz ein Rechter zu sein, Art Cologne, Cologne, Germany
1998Suermondt, Ludwig Museum, Aachen, Germany
1996Der Rächer von Dresden Photography-Installation at the festival, Theater der Welt, Dresden, Germany
Mein Herz Photography-Installation at the Lustgarten Berlin, Germany
Brückenschlag Photography-Installation, Cologne, Germany
2010Galerie Zellermayer, Berlin, Germany
2009Fotofestival Lodz, Fotofestival Luxembourg
2008ART Cologne, Germany
Studio Marangoni, Florenz, Italy
2006Am Strom, Galerie Holtmann, Cologne, Germany
ART Cologne, Germany
2003wonderlands, Museum Küppersmühle Sammlung, Grothe, Germany
1999ART Cologne, Galerie von Loeper, Germany
1997Fotofestival Groningen, Netherlands
1996Museum of Contemporary Art, Antwerp, Belgium
1995Deutschland-Zyklus, 3rd Internationales Bildforum, Herten, Germany
1993Sie nennen es Liebe, Neue Gesellschaft für Bildende Kunst, Berlin, Germany
Contemporary German Photography, The Light Factory, North Carolina, USA
1991Krieg für Frieden, Elefanten-Press Galerie, Berlin, Germany