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 Gabriele Dillmann on August 15, 1954) is a German heroine and talented sculptor. Many people know her as the "Angel of Mogadishu" because of her brave actions. She was a stewardess during a famous aircraft hijacking. She is also well-known for her unique sculptures made from beechwood.
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The Mogadishu Hijacking Story
Gabriele Dillmann worked as a flight attendant for Lufthansa. In 1977, she was on Lufthansa Flight 181 when terrorists took over the plane. These terrorists were from a group called the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).
During the long time the passengers were held captive, Gabriele was a great source of strength. She gave hope and support to all the other hostages. The German news praised her as a hero. She received the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany for her courage.
Later, she married her fiancé, Rüdiger von Lutzau. He was a Lufthansa pilot who flew the plane carrying the German GSG 9 commandos. These commandos were part of the special team that rescued the hostages. Gabriele and Rüdiger had two children. They were married for 44 years until Rüdiger passed away on August 2, 2021.
Films About the Hijacking
Two German films were made about this hijacking. One was Death Game (1997). In this movie, Susanne Schäfer played Gabriele. The other film was Mogadischu (2008), where Nadja Uhl played her role.
Peter H. Jamin also made a short film called Der Engel von Mogadischu. This film is about Gabriele von Lutzau's role in the hijacking. It also covers her life later as an artist.
Gabriele's Artistic Career
From 1984 to 1995, Gabriele von Lutzau studied art. She learned from Walther Piesch at the art school of the University of Strasbourg.
Her Unique Sculptures
Her artworks are mostly "guardian figures" carved from wood. She often uses beechwood, but also black locust wood. She uses special tools like a chainsaw and even a flamethrower to create her art.
Gabriele describes her work as "sentinels, wings, and life signs." She makes them from "discarded wood." This wood is often "unwanted" or has grown in tough conditions. It might be "gnarled and twisted" before being cut down. Even though she always starts with wood, she sometimes has her sculptures made into bronze or steel. For her "guardians" and "life signs," she also uses thuja trees. These are often called the "tree of life" because people plant them in cemeteries.
Exhibitions and Recognition
Lutzau has shown her art in many places. She exhibited at the ALP Galleries in New York City. This gallery focuses on German artists. She also showed her work in Shanghai at the Shanghai Spring Art Salon in 2003. She has had many shows in galleries across Germany.
After the events of September 11, 2001, Gabriele changed her art. She started coloring her guardian figures black. Before this, they were usually blue.
Gabriele von Lutzau is a member of the German Federal Association of Visual Artists (BBK). In 1997, she won the Aisch Art Prize from the Art Association of Höchstadt. She also helped judge for the Federal Office for Building and Regional Planning in Berlin in 2002. In 2003, she was a jury member for the BBK in Frankfurt. Today, she lives and works in Michelstadt in the Odenwald region.
