Born: 1966, Munich, Germany
Nationality: German
Style: Post-Internet Art, Video Art, Essay Film
Influences: Critical theory, documentary film, digital media
"If you don't have anything to hide, you don't have a life."
Notable Artwork
How Not to Be Seen: A Fucking Didactic Educational.MOV File (2013)
About Hito Steyerl
Born: 1966, Munich, Germany Nationality: German Style: Post-Internet Art, Video Art, Essay Film Influences: Critical theory, documentary film, digital media Major Exhibitions: “How Not to Be Seen: A Fucking Didactic Educational.MOV File” (2013), “The Wretched of the Screen” (2012), “Duty Free Art” (2015) Quote: “If you don’t have anything to hide, you don’t have a life.”
Notable Artwork: How Not to Be Seen: A Fucking Didactic Educational.MOV File (2013)
This video essay combines humor, satire, and critical theory to explore themes of surveillance, visibility, and digital representation. Steyerl offers a series of “lessons” on how to avoid being seen in the digital age, highlighting the paradoxes of visibility and invisibility in a world saturated with images.
Significance
Steyerl is a key figure in contemporary art and critical theory. This work exemplifies her approach, which blends artistic practice with rigorous intellectual inquiry. It addresses the political and social implications of digital technology in a highly engaging and thought-provoking way.