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Johannes Grenzfurthner

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Johannes Grenzfurthner
Grenzfurthner at Museumsquartier, Vienna, in 2011
Born1975 (age 50–51)
Vienna, Austria
OccupationsArtist, filmmaker, writer, curator, lecturer
Known forFounder and artistic director of monochrom
Websitegrenzfurthner.com
Signature

Johannes Grenzfurthner (born 1975) is an Austrian artist, filmmaker, writer, curator and lecturer. In 1993, he founded monochrom, initially an alternative magazine and later an art collective, and serves as its artistic director. His work spans performance, media art, publishing, political activism and film.

As a filmmaker, Grenzfurthner has worked in political documentary, essay film and experimental horror.[1][2]

Career

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Early life and monochrom

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Grenzfurthner was born in Vienna and grew up in Stockerau, Lower Austria. As a child, he read books about science and science fiction, played computer games and made films with his father's video camera.[3][4] At thirteen, he acquired his first modem and joined FidoNet and other bulletin board systems, through which he met science-fiction enthusiasts outside Stockerau. One of them was Franz Ablinger, with whom he founded monochrom in 1993 as a fanzine devoted to cyberculture, politics, art and science fiction.[1][5][6]

The magazine grew out of Grenzfurthner's interest in the political dimension of cyberpunk and his involvement in punk and anti-fascist politics. He conceived it as a left-wing European counterpoint to the market-liberal technological utopianism he associated with parts of American cyberculture and with what Richard Barbrook and Andy Cameron termed the Californian Ideology.[5][6][7] The publication mixed political and theoretical writing with science fiction, underground culture and experimental visual design.[5][8]

In 1995, monochrom began moving beyond print. Rather than remaining tied to a single medium, the group chose the form that best suited each project; its work came to include performances, theatre, films, computer games, installations, conferences, public interventions and political activism.[5][6][1] The collective came to call this transdisciplinary method "context hacking", applying ideas from hacker culture to social, cultural and institutional settings.[9][10] Grenzfurthner described the search for the appropriate format as finding the best "weapon of mass distribution" for an idea.[5][6] After he moved to Vienna in the late 1990s and further members joined, monochrom developed from a magazine into an art collective working across performance, media art, theatre, film and publishing.[1]

Grenzfurthner's upbringing later became material for the stage programme Schicksalsjahre eines Nerds and the autobiographical documentary Traceroute. Both return to his childhood in Stockerau and his entry into networked subculture, approaching nerd culture with a mixture of affection and criticism.[11][4][12][13]

Artistic and curatorial work

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Much of Grenzfurthner's artistic work has been produced with monochrom. The collective has presented work at the Vienna Secession, the São Paulo Art Biennial, Transmediale, Kunsthalle Exnergasse, the Contemporary Art Gallery in Vancouver, the Werkleitz Biennale and MUSA in Vienna.[14][15][16][17]

Grenzfurthner subsequently presented context hacking in lectures and workshops.[18] In 2013, he co-edited the volume Context Hacking: How to Mess with Art, Media, Law and the Market.[19]

Grenzfurthner curates Arse Elektronika, a festival about sexuality and technology. It was first held in San Francisco and has also taken place in Linz and Vienna.[1] He co-organises Roboexotica in Vienna with Günther Friesinger.[20] The festival is devoted to cocktail robots.[21]

Film

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Grenzfurthner made his feature-film debut with the fantasy comedy Die Gstettensaga: The Rise of Echsenfriedl (2014).[1]

Grenzfurthner followed with two documentary features. Traceroute (2016) is an autobiographical road documentary built around a journey across the United States and conversations about the changing place of nerd culture.[22] Glossary of Broken Dreams (2018) is an essay film about political concepts including capitalism, identity and freedom of expression.[23]

Masking Threshold, an experimental horror film, screened at Fantastic Fest in 2021.[24] The Los Angeles Times included it in a 2022 Halloween guide to ten new horror films.[25] Razzennest screened in Fantastic Fest's Burnt Ends programme in 2022.[26]

The documentary Hacking at Leaves premiered at the Diagonale in 2024.[27][28] After the film did not receive commercial distribution, he released it through the Internet Archive in August 2025.[29]

Solvent premiered at the Slash Filmfestival in Vienna on 26 September 2024 and screened at the Diagonale in 2025.[30][2] Grenzfurthner shot the film at his grandparents' former farmhouse in Unterzögersdorf.[1]

In 2026, his science-fiction project You Were Never Here was selected for the Frontières International Co-Production Market at the Fantasia International Film Festival.[31][32]

Writing for ORF, Pia Reiser grouped Masking Threshold, Razzennest and Solvent as a trilogy connected by their use of horror and sound.[33] In 2025, ORF film critic Christian Fuchs included Grenzfurthner in what he called the "Austrian New Wave", a loosely defined group of filmmakers working across arthouse, documentary, experimental and genre cinema.[34]

Writing and teaching

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Grenzfurthner has edited books on media art, political theory, cultural jamming, sexuality and technology. They include Urban Hacking: Cultural Jamming Strategies in the Risky Spaces of Modernity (2010), Context Hacking: How to Mess with Art, Media, Law and the Market (2013), and Arse Elektronika: Sexponential! (2025).[35][19][36]

He teaches transmedia art at the University of Applied Arts Vienna and communication theory at Leuphana University Lüneburg.[37][38][39] He has also taught at FH Joanneum and the University of Arts Linz.[40][41]

He is a regular contributor to an Austrian news magazine Profil.[42]

Selected filmography

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Selected theatre

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  • Udo 77 (Rabenhof Theatre, Vienna, 2004) – director; book and production by monochrom.[43]
  • Warten auf Goto (Volkstheater Hundsturm, Vienna, 2006) – writer and director.[44]
  • monochrom's ISS (Garage X, Vienna, and Ballhaus Ost, Berlin, 2011) – performer as Bodo Holtzmann.[45]
  • Steppenrot (Theater Spektakel, Vienna, 2017) – actor.[46]
  • Die Hansi-Halleluja-Show (Theater Spektakel, Vienna, 2019) – director and performer.[47]

Selected exhibitions

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  • Junge Szene Wien '98, Vienna Secession, Vienna (1998) – media installation.[14]
  • The Thomann Project, São Paulo Art Biennial, São Paulo (2002), with monochrom.[15]
  • bildet to-do-stapel! – 12 Jahre monochrom, Kunsthalle Exnergasse, Vienna (2005).[16][15]
  • Unterspiel, Contemporary Art Gallery, Vancouver (2005), with monochrom.[15]
  • Happy Believers, 7th Werkleitz Biennale, Halle, Germany (2006), with monochrom.[15]
  • Transmediale 2006, Berlin, with monochrom.[15]
  • Die waren früher auch mal besser: monochrom 1993–2013, MUSA, Vienna (2013).[17]

Selected awards

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  • 2005 – The Rabenhof Theatre's 2004–05 season received the Nestroy Theatre Prize for Best Off Production (Udo 77).[48]
  • 2006 – Grenzfurthner and monochrom were among the three winners of the Coke Light Art Edition competition.[49]
  • 2021 – Masking Threshold received the Film From Hell award at the Nightmares Film Festival.[50]
  • 2021 – Masking Threshold won best film in the Being Different section of the Molins Horror Film Festival.[51]

Selected publications

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  • Johannes Grenzfurthner, Thomas Edlinger and Fritz Ostermayer (eds.) (2002). Wer erschoss Immanenz? Zur Dynamik von Aneignung und Intervention bei Georg Paul Thomann. Vienna: Edition Selene. ISBN 3-85266-183-8.[52]
  • Johannes Grenzfurthner, Stephan Grigat and Günther Friesinger (eds.) (2006). Spektakel – Kunst – Gesellschaft: Guy Debord und die Situationistische Internationale. Berlin: Verbrecher Verlag. ISBN 3-935843-61-5.[53]
  • Johannes Grenzfurthner and Günther Friesinger (eds.) (2006). Quo Vadis, Logo?!. Vienna: edition mono/monochrom. ISBN 3-9500731-5-9.[54]
  • Johannes Grenzfurthner, Günther Friesinger and Daniel Fabry (eds.) (2008). Pr0nnovation? Pornography and Technological Innovation. San Francisco: RE/Search Publications. ISBN 978-1-889307-20-6.[55]
  • Johannes Grenzfurthner, Günther Friesinger, Daniel Fabry and Thomas Ballhausen (eds.) (2009). Do Androids Sleep with Electric Sheep? Critical Perspectives on Sexuality and Pornography in Science and Social Fiction. San Francisco: RE/Search Publications. ISBN 978-1-889307-23-7.[56]
  • Johannes Grenzfurthner, Günther Friesinger and Thomas Ballhausen (eds.) (2010). Urban Hacking: Cultural Jamming Strategies in the Risky Spaces of Modernity. Bielefeld: transcript. ISBN 978-3-8376-1536-4.[35]
  • Johannes Grenzfurthner, Günther Friesinger and Thomas Ballhausen (eds.) (2010). Schutzverletzungen: Legitimation medialer Gewalt. Berlin: Verbrecher Verlag. ISBN 978-3-940426-39-0.[57]
  • Johannes Grenzfurthner, Günther Friesinger, Thomas Ballhausen and Verena Bauer (eds.) (2010). Geist in der Maschine: Medien, Prozesse und Räume in der Kybernetik. Vienna: Turia + Kant.[58]
  • Johannes Grenzfurthner, Günther Friesinger and Daniel Fabry (eds.) (2011). Of Intercourse and Intracourse: Sexuality, Biomodification and the Techno-Social Sphere. Vienna: edition mono/monochrom. ISBN 978-3-902796-02-8.[59]
  • Johannes Grenzfurthner, Günther Friesinger and Frank Apunkt Schneider (eds.) (2013). Context Hacking: How to Mess with Art, Media, Law and the Market. Vienna: Edition Mono.[19]
  • Johannes Grenzfurthner, Günther Friesinger and Jasmin Hagendorfer (eds.) (2025). Arse Elektronika: Sexponential!. Vienna: monochrom. ISBN 978-3-903549-01-2.[36]

References

[edit]
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Thaller, Jakob (27 March 2025). "Der "Ufo-Hannes" aus Stockerau: Porträt des Regisseurs Johannes Grenzfurthner". Der Standard (in German). Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Johannes Grenzfurthner". Diagonale film archive. Diagonale – Festival of Austrian Film. Retrieved 25 July 2026.
  3. ↑ "Johannes Grenzfurthner". DOKweb. Institute of Documentary Film. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  4. 1 2 Schaur-Wünsch, Teresa (16 January 2019). "Grenzfurthner: „Die Welt wird von Nerds gemacht"". Die Presse (in German). Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Da Costa, Marc (11 November 2010). "Interview with Johannes Grenzfurthner of monochrom, Part 3". Furtherfield. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Dax, Patrick (20 February 2013). "monochrom: „Das Hacken treibt uns an"". Futurezone (in German). Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  7. ↑ Tim Pritlove (2 January 2008). "CRE062 Monochrom". CRE: Technik, Kultur, Gesellschaft (Podcast) (in German). Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  8. ↑ "various editors – monochrom #26–34 Ye Olde Self-Referentiality". Neural. 15 June 2010. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  9. ↑ "Die Suche nach dem „perfekten Medium"". ORF.at (in German). 28 January 2013. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  10. ↑ Schneider, Frank Apunkt; Grenzfurthner, Johannes; Friesinger, Günther (2013). "Context Hacking: How to Mess with Art, Media, Law and the Market". monochrom. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  11. ↑ Mühlbauer, Peter (14 October 2014). "„Schicksalsjahre einer Klasse, die heute die Welt regiert"". Telepolis (in German). Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  12. ↑ Gore, Chris (21 March 2017). "Johannes Grenzfurthner is Kinda Nerdy". Film Threat. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  13. ↑ Kaestle, Thomas (13 January 2016). "Johannes Grenzfurthner über Traceroute: Unterwegs mit dem Leitnerd". Zebrabutter (in German). Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  14. 1 2 "Junge Szene Wien '98". basis wien (in German). 1998. Retrieved 24 July 2026.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "monochrom – exhibitions, awards and publications". Artothek des Bundes (in German). Retrieved 24 July 2026.
  16. 1 2 "bildet to-do-stapel! – 12 Jahre monochrom". Kunsthalle Exnergasse (in German). WUK. 2005. Retrieved 24 July 2026.
  17. 1 2 "monochrom (1993–2013): Retrospektive im MUSA". City of Vienna press service (in German). 28 January 2013. Retrieved 24 July 2026.
  18. ↑ "Context Hacking". Artport. 17 September 2014. Retrieved 25 July 2026.
  19. 1 2 3 "Context hacking: how to mess with art, media, law and the market". WorldCat. OCLC. Retrieved 24 July 2026.
  20. ↑ "Schnaps und Robotik: Mechanisches Cocktailmixen in Wien". heise online (in German). 29 November 2013. Retrieved 24 July 2026.
  21. ↑ Wortham, Jenna (12 June 2008). "Bot Bartenders Sling Drinks at Roboexotica USA". Wired. Retrieved 24 July 2026.
  22. 1 2 Glashüttner, Robert (18 May 2016). "Wer und was ist ein Nerd?". FM4 (in German). ORF. Retrieved 25 July 2026.
  23. ↑ Klingler, Nino (20 November 2019). "Glossary of Broken Dreams". critic.de (in German). Retrieved 25 July 2026.
  24. ↑ "Fantastic Fest 2021 Review: 'Masking Threshold'". What to Watch. 30 September 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2026.
  25. ↑ Yamato, Jen (27 October 2022). "Halloween horror guide: The 10 best new movies to watch". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 24 July 2026.
  26. ↑ von Seele, Emily (23 September 2022). "Fantastic Fest 2022 Review: Razzennest is a Crazy, Fun Outside-the-Box Horror Story". Daily Dead. Retrieved 24 July 2026.
  27. 1 2 "Hacking at Leaves". Diagonale film archive. Diagonale – Festival of Austrian Film. Retrieved 24 July 2026.
  28. ↑ Pavido, Marina (15 April 2024). "Hacking at Leaves (2024) by Johannes Grenzfurthner – Review". Cinema Austriaco. Retrieved 24 July 2026.
  29. ↑ Hansson, Marcus (6 November 2025). "Hacking at Leaves: Dokumentarfilm mit Makerbezug online frei verfügbar". heise online (in German). Retrieved 24 July 2026.
  30. 1 2 "Solvent". Slash Filmfestival. 26 September 2024. Retrieved 24 July 2026.
  31. ↑ "2026 Frontières Market's First Wave Announcement". Frontières International Co-Production Market. 12 May 2026. Retrieved 24 July 2026.
  32. ↑ Mack, Andrew (12 May 2026). "Frontières 2026: First Wave of Titles Announced". ScreenAnarchy. Retrieved 24 July 2026.
  33. ↑ Reiser, Pia (19 March 2023). "Sound ist das Wichtigste beim Film!". FM4 (in German). ORF. Retrieved 25 July 2026.
  34. ↑ Fuchs, Christian (22 September 2025). "Die New Wave des österreichischen Kinos: Florian Pochlatko im FM4 Filmpodcast". FM4 (in German). ORF. Retrieved 25 July 2026.
  35. 1 2 "Urban hacking: cultural jamming strategies in the risky spaces of modernity". WorldCat. OCLC. Retrieved 24 July 2026.
  36. 1 2 "Object Sexualification". reposiTUm. TU Wien. Retrieved 24 July 2026.
  37. ↑ "Johannes Grenzfurthner". University of Applied Arts Vienna. Retrieved 25 July 2026.
  38. ↑ "Where ART Thou? 2022 – ein Programm für junge Kreative". Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs (in German). 10 June 2022. Retrieved 27 July 2026.
  39. ↑ "Johannes Grenzfurthner". dok.at. Retrieved 27 July 2026.
  40. ↑ "Johannes Grenzfurthner". Academia Film Olomouc. Arts Centre of Palacký University. Retrieved 27 July 2026.
  41. ↑ "Johannes Grenzfurthner". Austrian Directors Guild. Retrieved 27 July 2026.
  42. ↑ Grenzfurthner, Johannes (26 April 2023). "Lack saufen für die Zukunft". Profil (in German). Retrieved 24 July 2026.
  43. ↑ Pohl, Ronald (17 September 2004). "Das ist der Zuckerbäckerblues". Der Standard (in German). Retrieved 24 July 2026.
  44. ↑ "Errungenschaften, intergalaktisch belächelt". Der Standard (in German). 25 April 2006. Retrieved 24 July 2026.
  45. ↑ Mühlbauer, Peter (24 June 2011). "Kotze, Sperma und Inventur im Weltraum". Telepolis (in German). Retrieved 24 July 2026.
  46. ↑ Weise, Marco (3 December 2017). ""Steppenrot": Der Sonnenkönig ist runtergefallen". Kurier (in German). Retrieved 24 July 2026.
  47. ↑ "Sex, Crime und ein Halleluja für Hansi". Die Presse (in German). 6 January 2019. Retrieved 24 July 2026.
  48. ↑ ""Nestroy" für Lebenswerk an Michael Heltau". City of Vienna press service (in German). 14 September 2005. Retrieved 24 July 2026.
  49. ↑ "Coke Light Art Edition 2006". artmagazine.cc (in German). 26 May 2006. Retrieved 24 July 2026.
  50. ↑ Winn, Danni (31 October 2021). "Nightmares Film Fest 2021 Interview: 'Masking Threshold' Writer and Director Johannes Grenzfurthner". PopHorror. Retrieved 24 July 2026.
  51. ↑ "Awards 40th edition TerrorMolins". Molins Horror Film Festival. 23 November 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2026.
  52. ↑ "Wer erschoss Immanenz?". basis wien (in German). 2002. Retrieved 24 July 2026.
  53. ↑ "Spektakel – Kunst – Gesellschaft: Guy Debord und die Situationistische Internationale". University of Vienna research portal. 2006. Retrieved 24 July 2026.
  54. ↑ "Quo Vadis, Logo?!". University of Vienna research portal. 2006. Retrieved 24 July 2026.
  55. ↑ Grenzfurthner, Johannes; Friesinger, Günther; Fabry, Daniel, eds. (2008). Pr0nnovation? Pornography and Technological Innovation. RE/Search Publications. ISBN 978-1-889307-20-6. Retrieved 24 July 2026.
  56. ↑ "Do Androids Sleep with Electric Sheep?: monochrom's Arse Elektronika Anthology". The Neural Archive. 2009. Retrieved 24 July 2026.
  57. ↑ "Schutzverletzungen: Legitimation medialer Gewalt". Verbrecher Verlag (in German). 2010. Retrieved 24 July 2026.
  58. ↑ "Regelkünste: Über Kybernetik und Operational Research". University of Vienna research portal (in German). 2010. Retrieved 24 July 2026.
  59. ↑ "Of Intercourse and Intracourse". The Neural Archive. 9 February 2012. Retrieved 24 July 2026.
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