Annegret Soltau Artworks

Selbst (Self) (1975)

Selbst (Self) (1975) is a photographic series of self-portraits taken during a private performance by the artist. In 1975, Soltau tied up both herself and members of the audience, covering their faces with black thread. In Selbst (Self), Soltau documents this experience of physical distortion, while also piercing and sewing the physical image with thread.

The sewn self-portraits have become a unique trademark of Soltau's practice. Her work challenges representations of the female figure by distorting and puncturing it. Every stich Soltau makes is a reference to the marginalised position of the female body in society.

Schwanger (Pregnant) (1980)

In this work, Soltau explores her own experience of pregnancy as a theme. She used herself as a model, capturing her body as it changed and developed throughout her pregnancies.

Soltau's work considers how women combine creativity and motherhood. Despite fearing the idea of motherhood and how it might affect her role as an artist, Soltau felt inspired to create a series of photos and videos that documented her bodily transformation.

'Generative' Series (1994–2005)

In this series of work, Soltau plays with the limitations of age by merging cross-generational images of women's bodies. She uses her signature device of stitching and sewing to fuse together four generations of women in her family.

Soltau's dissection of imagery explores themes of gender, identity, and bodily transformation. Her 'Generative' series depicts new meanings beyond what it means to be women in a patriarchal society. The sutures connect, repair, and map Soltau's journey of identity exploration.