Orlan Biography
ORLAN (1947 - ) is one of the most famous French artists known internationally. ORLAN was born as Mireille Suzanne Francette Porte in Saint Etienne, France in 1947. She lives and works between Los Angeles and Paris.
Since 1965 he has dealt with photography, video, sculpture, installations and performances. In 1977, his performance The Artist's Kiss during the FIAC in Paris was a huge scandal. In 1978 he created the International Performance Symposium in Lyon. In 1982 he founded the first online contemporary art magazine, Art-Accès-Revue. He wrote the Carnal Art manifesto, and from 1990 to 1993 directed his series of 9 cosmetic surgery performances, filmed and broadcast in institutions around the world, including the Center Georges Pompidou in Paris.
It is not tied to any material, technology or artistic practice. He creates sculptures, photographs, performances, videos and video games, augmented reality, artificial intelligence and robotics using scientific and medical techniques such as surgery and biogenetics.
ORLAN makes his body the medium, the raw material and the visual support of his work. It takes place like the “public debate”. He is a leading figure of "body art" and "carnal art" as he defines it in his 1989 manifesto.
ORLAN constantly and radically changes data, which disrupts conventions and "pre-packaged thinking". It opposes natural, social and political determinism and all forms of domination, male supremacy, religion, cultural segregation and racism, etc.
Always mixed with humor, often parody or even grotesque, his provocative works can shock because it shakes established codes.
In 2021 she was awarded the National Order of the Legion of Honor at the rank of Knight by the French Minister of Culture.
