In her photographic works, Bettina Cohnen presents herself ironically, delineating the range of female stereotypes from the diva to the alcoholic. Re-enactments or the attempt to emphatically understand the re-enactment of specific historical, cultural or socio-political events, to bring them up-to-date or to correct them, create the background. Simultaneously the reflection includes that of the artist herself.

In her most recent works, Cohnen searches for clichéd ideas of German culture in New York. Thus she documents the maintenance of questionable traditions, and portrays clichéd role models and identities that oscillate between public presentation and supposed authenticity.

Biography

1973 born in Bielefeld

1996–2001 studies of Fine Arts at Fachhochschule Hannover

2001–2002 master class student of Prof. Ulrich Eller

2002–2003 California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), Valencia/Los Angeles, California, MFA-Program in Photography

2008 New York-Scholarship of the state Niedersachsen and Niedersächsische Sparkassenstiftung, attended the International Studio and Curatorial Program (ISCP)