Gabriele von Lutzau facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gabriele von Lutzau
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Gabriele von Lutzau, 2010
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Gabriele Dillmann
15 August 1954 |
| Occupation | Sculptor |
| Known for | Her role in a notorious hijacking |
Gabriele von Lutzau (born August 15, 1954) is a brave German woman. She is known as a hero and a talented artist. Many people remember her as the "Angel of Mogadishu." This name came from her courageous actions during a scary airplane hijacking. She was a flight attendant at the time. Today, she is also famous for her unique sculptures made from wood.
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A Heroic Flight Attendant
Gabriele Dillmann worked as a flight attendant for Lufthansa, a German airline. In 1977, she was working on a flight called Lufthansa Flight 181. During this flight, the plane was taken over by a group of people.
The Hijacking Story
The hijackers held everyone on the plane captive for several days. It was a very difficult and scary time for all the passengers and crew. Gabriele was a true hero during this period. She stayed strong and helped keep up the spirits of the other people held hostage. She offered them comfort and hope.
Because of her amazing bravery, the German newspapers called her the "Angel of Mogadishu." Mogadishu was the city where the hijacking finally ended.
Awards and Family Life
For her courageous actions, Gabriele was given a very important award. It was called the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. This award is given to people who have done great things for their country.
Later, Gabriele married her fiancé, Rüdiger von Lutzau. He was also a pilot for Lufthansa. Interestingly, he flew the plane that carried the special German commandos. These commandos were part of a team called GSG 9. They successfully rescued everyone from the hijacked plane. Gabriele and Rüdiger were married for 44 years and had two children together.
Films About the Event
The story of this hijacking was so important that it was made into two German films. One film was called Death Game (1997). The other was Mogadischu (2008). In these movies, actresses played Gabriele's role. There was also a short film made about her, called Der Engel von Mogadischu (The Angel of Mogadishu). This film showed both her brave actions and her life as an artist.
Gabriele's Artistic Journey
After her time as a flight attendant, Gabriele von Lutzau decided to follow her passion for art. She studied art from 1984 to 1995 at the art school of the University of Strasbourg.
Sculptures from Wood
Gabriele is known for her unique sculptures, which she calls "guardian figures." Most of her artworks are carved from wood, especially beechwood. She also uses other types of wood, like black locust.
She uses unusual tools for her art, such as a chainsaw and even a flamethrower! She describes her work as "sentinels, wings, and life signs." She often uses wood that others might see as "discarded" or "unwanted." This wood might have grown in tough conditions, making it gnarled and twisted.
Even though her original sculptures are always made of wood, she sometimes has them made into bronze or steel versions. She also uses thuja trees for some of her "guardians" and "life signs." Thuja trees are sometimes called the "tree of life."
Exhibitions and Recognition
Gabriele von Lutzau has shown her amazing artwork in many places. She has exhibited at the ALP Galleries in New York City, which features German artists. Her work has also been shown in Shanghai, China, at the Shanghai Spring Art Salon in 2003. She has had many exhibitions and shows in Germany as well.
After the events of September 11, 2001, Gabriele started coloring her guardian figures black. Before that, they were usually blue.
Gabriele is a member of the German Federal Association of Visual Artists. She has also won awards for her art, like the Aisch Art Prize in 1997. She has even been a judge for art competitions. Today, she lives and works in Michelstadt, a town in Germany.
