Jean-Marie Bottequin is the son of Wallonian Prof. Dr. Armand Bottequin (professor for philosophy, theatrical science and Romanic languages) and his Flemish wife, nurse and social worker, Odile Maenhout. His father's first marriage produced the sons Jacques and Pierre; the marriage with Odile Maenhout produced Jean-Marie Albert, Guy Antoine and Monique.
Following his high school graduation (baccalauréat), in 1957, Bottequin went on to study classical theater at the "Ecole des Hautes Etudes". In 1959, he was accepted to study Romance studies, educational studies and art education at Ghent University; in 1960, he decided to study painting and art education with renowned Belgian artist, Octave Landuyt at the ‘'Normalschool voor plastische Kunsten'’ in Ghent. Since 1962, Bottequin has been working as a free-lance photographer, photo artist, and self-taught artist.
In 1968, Bottequin created his first social reportages for Quick magazine, following which he became the personal photographer and reporter with IOS, Investors Overseas Services, Geneva – Munich. In 1970, Bottequin decided to also work as a free-lance photo journalist. From 1972 to 1981, aside from his free-lance commitments, he went on to become a member of the dramaturgy of the Bayerische Staatsschauspiel Munich, and consequently its personal photographer. From 1975 to 1985, he was a lecturer at the ‘'Lehrinstitut für Grafikdesign'‘ U5 Academy [de] (now ‘'Akademie in der Einsteinstraße'‘).
Bottequin's first marriage to fellow Belgian Monique Kesteman produced the children Caroline and Michel. His second marriage to American-Belgian actress, voice talent, translator, book author and poet Marietta Meade produced the children Ezra, Avital and Ayalah.
Jean-Marie Bottequin speaks French, Dutch, German and English.
Bottequin has been living and working in Munich, Germany since 1968.
Photo design, portraiture, commercial and industrial photography
Theater and stage photography: Bayerisches Staatstheater (Bavarian State Theater), Munich, Germany; Bayerische Staatsoper (Bavarian State Opera), Munich; Bayreuther Festspiele; Württembergisches Staatstheater; Vereinigte Bühnen Wien, Vienna, Austria; Stuttgart Ballet; Hamburg Opera; Burgtheater Wien, Vienna, Austria; etc.
Ballet photography: Stuttgart Ballet, Germany; Hamburg State Ballet, Germany; Koninklijk Ballet van Vlaanderen, Belgium.
Automotive photography: In 1984 BMW commissioned Bottequin to photograph their celebrated photo series of BMW old timers (for which he won the Award of Excellence in 1988).
Reprography of paintings and sculpture photography
Art Director (for catalogs, brochures and illustrations/layout, e.g., Classic Cars / BMW AG; Residenztheater Munich; Public Relations Office and Cultural Affairs Department of the City of Munich; European Patent Office, Munich; BMW AG, as well as numerous brochures pertaining to cultural events)
In 1967 Bottequin receives the ‘'Preis der belgischen Kritik'‘ (Award of the Belgian Critique) for his extraordinary black&white photography.
In 1981 he is the recipient of the ‘'Sonderpreis der Triennale der Photographie'‘ (Special Award of the Triennale of Photography) in Fribourg, Switzerland.
In 1988 he is the recipient of the ‘'Award of Excellence'’ in Chicago, United States.
Having founded IPS (International Photographic Seminars: Photographic seminars for professional and amateur photographers), Bottequin has been facilitating fine art photographic seminars since 1980. In addition, he gives public lectures on visual perception and active vision.
Filmography (documentaries / a selection)
"Cobra Gruppe bei Kindern", film on experimental education, commissioned by UNESCO und Ghent University, 1960, 30 min, 16 mm
"Sanne Sannes – Photographer in Holland", Belgian (Flemish) TV (BRT), Ghent, 1967, 20 min, 16 mm
"Photographieworkshop – eine Selbstinszenierung", commissioned by Fotomagazin, München, 1987, 17 min, Beta SP
"Donni Buffalo Dog and Ursula Hanes – Two Sculptors in Tuscany", commissioned by the Musée du Nouveau Monde, La Rochelle, France, 1988, 30 min, Beta SP
"Metamorphoses", automotive design of the 20th century, commissioned by BMW AG, Munich, 1993, 9 min, 16 mm; presentation at the International Design Exhibit in Paris
"Art in Brazil", commissioned by the European Patent Office (EPA), Munich 1995, 25 min, Beta SP
"Cristine Barroso – A Portrait", commissioned by the European Patent Office (EPA), Munich, 1996, 29 min, Beta SP
