NEUBAUER

'ENBE' is an experimental short film that deals with the question of identity or the (re)discovery of one. The story is told through a series of conversations. This all-too-human question of 'Who (and what) am I?' is presented in fragments - in a humorous, absurd and philosophical way. This video sketches the story in an undefined distant future, addressing some of the core themes of science fiction. Lastly it asks - especially in relation to technological progress - how much control humans have over their thoughts and actions.

There are a total of six settings that, independently of each other, explore specific themes: The search for meaning, love, artificial intelligence, 'we are animals', auto-destruction and social descent.

For instance, a plot deals with Frankenstein's monster who wants to clone himself. Or Olimpia (from E.T.A. Hoffmann's 'The Sandman') meets the Terminator (A. Schwarzenegger in James Cameron's film), and with Roy Batty (android from Ridley Scott's 'Blade Runner') they come together by the fireplace to discuss human ontology with Descartes and Heidegger. A technical discussion between experts.

And what happens at a press conference where Dürer's hare, Damien Hirst's shark and several animals by Franz Marc reflect on the difficulties they experienced in their time as art models? What do they demand? Can animals actually speak? In the love game show Herzblatt (The Dating Game), Narcissus is the man in search of his better half and asks the candidates particularly trivial or self-centered questions. The three people on the other side are of course: Dorian Gray, Xerox Model A (the world's first mass-produced photocopier) and Narcissus (sic!). Will he choose himself?

Or an event at the children's playground: Humphrey Bogart stands next to the Marlboro man and Helmut Schmidt - and asks for a razor blade instead of a cigarette. The cowboy is happy to give his buddy one, and together they carve their forearms. In the distant future, the culture of auto-destruction is simply a little different.

'STREAMER' is a fictitious compilation of reaction videos by Sebastian Neubauer about his previous video works that he has published as a video artist. Either produced alone or in collaboration with other artists. In this series of clips edited together, he summarizes his career and the production of the video works.

In the process, media and internet culture is copied and critically examined. Not only are these formats shown in television, but also on the Internet and present a glorified view of the past. Sometimes facts are distorted, sometimes anecdotal reports are made about funny things that happened and basically have nothing to do with the topic. Again and again, the subliminal theme is: what is true, what is reality?

It is therefore also about the presentation and portrayal as a person in front of the camera, as an artist who presents himself to the public, which is also a symbol for numerous influencers and other video creators. It is about reusing media material, which at the same time becomes new material - for other people's reactions.

It is about staging narratives, playing in front of and with the camera, about the question of originality and reproduction.