Josef Habeler was born on 25 December 1944 in Wiener Neustadt. In December 2000 he fell off a tree and suffered a dislocation fracture of the cervical spine. He can no longer use his arms or legs. A several-week-long stay at the hospital was followed by nine months of rehabilitation. In July 2001, during the rehabilitation period, he realised that life could be worth living again. He discovered a different side of his life to which he did not have access previously – painting with the mouth. It fascinated him to such a degree that he became caught up in it. Mouth painting helped him to bear his fate and even made him forget it for hours.
Josef soon made great progress. By coincidence, he heard about the Association of Mouth and Foot Painting Artists and was made a Student Member in 2004. In 2010 he became an Associate Member of the Association. Initially, Josef Habeler did the paintings on silk cloth and silk scarves. Soon he became interested in watercolour. Recently he had a go at acrylics and oils. Josef’s favourite theme is landscapes. On the occasions of nationwide exhibitions, Josef Habeler has had the opportunity to present his artworks to a broader public.
