Isa Genzken

The Völklingen Ironworks flooded in red light
Copyright: Weltkulturerbe Völklinger Hütte | Oliver Dietze

Genzgen isa 140809 koeln ludwigmuseum Hpschaefer CC BY SA 3

Genzgen isa 140809 koeln ludwigmuseum Hpschaefer CC BY SA 3
Copyright: Hpschaefer | CC BY-SA-3.0

Born in 1948 in Bad Oldeslohe, Germany
Lives and works in Berlin, Germany

Work

X-Ray

isa genzken 3 roentgen aufnahmen vergr upscale 2000

isa genzken 3 roentgen aufnahmen vergr upscale 2000
Copyright: Isa Genzken

This photographic triptych of self-portraits, entitled X-Rays and dating from 1991, shows Berlin artist Isa Genzken's X-rayed skull while she drinks from a wine glass, among other things. Like alcohol, unnecessary skull X-rays are risky and self-damaging. The X-rays can therefore be understood as a self-deprecating commentary on Genzken's often-described excessive lifestyle, through which she raises existential questions about self-image and her own mortality.