Rebecca Horn Dies: A Visionary Legacy

On September 6, the art world lost one of its most unique voices with the death of Rebecca Horn, aged 80, in Bad König (Germany). Born in 1944 in Michelstadt (Germany), Horn studied at the Hamburg School of Arts and Saint Martins College of Art in London. Between 1972 and 1981, he lived in New York before returning to Berlin to dedicate himself to teaching. His career spanned several disciplines, such as painting, sculpture, film direction and performance art.

His works, such as 'Unicorn' and 'Pencil Mask', are widely recognized for their innovative exploration of the relationship between the body and the machine. Initially, Horn worked with lightweight materials such as ostrich feathers and fabric to create "body extensions", a technique he applied in his performances and films. From 1980, he focused on creating mechanized sculptures, using objects such as spoons, typewriters, suitcases, metal hammers and musical instruments, thus expanding his artistic vocabulary.

Horn regarded Mallorca as his personal sanctuary, and established a workshop in Pollença, where he maintained contact with young emerging artists. Frederic Pinya, director of the Pelaires Gallery, remarked that his death leaves an irreparable void in the world of contemporary art, where his multidisciplinary work has left an indelible mark. The Pelaires Gallery hosted four exhibitions by the artist, in addition to a project in Sa Llotja de Palma, with a sculptural installation dedicated to Ramon Llull.

The Es Baluard museum also exhibits some of his works, such as La Ferdinanda X-Ray and Three Graces in Blue, permanently exhibited in one of the courtyards of the contemporary art museum. His work has been recognized internationally, and is present in the collections of prestigious institutions such as the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York, the Irish Museum of Modern Art in Dublin, the Tate Collection in London, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the Contemporary Art Museum of Barcelona.

Horn also had a special connection with Barcelona, as evidenced by the emblematic sculpture on Barceloneta beach. This sculpture was commissioned by Glòria Moure, as part of the urban sculpture tour designed for the 1992 Olympic Games.

Rebecca Horn has been described as a "unique and visionary" artist, leaving an unforgettable legacy in the world of contemporary art. His work has challenged the limits of perception and movement, creating a dialogue between human frailty and machinery, the tangible and the intangible.

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