Valie Export

In 1967, Waltraud Hollinger changed her name to Valie Export, adopting a new identity that was different from one associated with a father or husband, and at the same time, she created a brand name of her identity as an artist. Export is one of the first artists to use her own body as the central artistic tool. She deconstructs her own body as a way to explore identity and society, as well as to explore image and representation. A second important expression in Export’s work is the concept of “body configurations” - the artist uses her body as a symbol or sign in nature or architecture as a way to show how we the body is an extension of the architecture as well as a contrast, and as a way to separate itself from “ideological environment”.

Export has used images of herself through performance to create her photographic and film work that explore the image and its representation. In the process of creation, her body is transformed from object to active subject. Many times the artist re-uses the images with the intention of change the meaning.

Export is one of the most prolific media artists; she uses different media such as her own body, video, film, performance, photo, and drawing. Her conceptual work in photography and film has become important to the history of this art period.


References:
Alberro Alexander. Artforum International, Valie Export, April 01.
Markus Hallensleben. Importing Valie Export: Corporeal Topographies in Contemporary Austrian Body Art, Modern Austrian Literature, Vol. 42, No. 3, University of British Columbia. 2009.
Sally O’Reilly. Valie Export, Art Monthly, Vol. 28.
David Stromberg. A Self-Created Personality. July 24, 2009.