Hito Steyerl

Hito Steyerl is a German filmmaker, visual artist, and writer whose work critically examines the intersections of technology, politics, and media in contemporary society. Born in 1966 in Munich, Steyerl is known for her experimental approach to documentary filmmaking, blending fact and fiction to explore the power structures underlying globalization, surveillance, and the digital economy. Her films, video installations, and essays often question the role of images in shaping political realities, and she is considered a key figure in addressing the cultural and political implications of digital technology.Steyerl’s work frequently critiques the pervasive influence of capitalism and the commodification of art and information in the digital age. In her acclaimed video installation How Not to Be Seen: A Fucking Didactic Educational .MOV File (2013), she explores the tension between visibility and invisibility in a world dominated by surveillance technologies. Using humor and irony, Steyerl dissects how images are used to control, manipulate, and monitor people, turning her critical lens on both the art world and broader societal structures.A prolific writer, Steyerl has also published influential essays on art and digital culture, expanding on themes she explores in her films. In works like In Defense of the Poor Image, she analyzes the circulation of low-resolution images and the ways they reflect shifting power dynamics in a hyper-mediated world. Her ability to weave together critical theory and visual art has made her a leading voice in contemporary discourse on art and technology.Steyerl’s work has been exhibited in prestigious institutions worldwide, including the Venice Biennale, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, and the Centre Pompidou in Paris. Her innovative approach to filmmaking and art continues to challenge how we understand the role of images in shaping politics and society, solidifying her as one of the most influential contemporary artists working today.