Blaise Kirschner is an artist whose innovative practice revolves around the moving image, using video installations and medium- to long-form films as tools to address some of the most pressing socio-political, technological, and ecological issues of our time. With a keen interest in exploring histories from below, Kirschner’s work often draws on speculative fiction, popular genres, and post-cinematic media to challenge and provoke audiences. Their films encode cultural fears and fantasies about future developments, navigating the complex terrain of what our evolving world might look like in the near future—and how we might both shape and be shaped by these changes.
Rather than adhering to a single style or method, Kirschner’s art is defined by its adaptability and responsiveness. Their practice is process-driven, with each work evolving out of the specific questions and events it begins with. This allows them to constantly reimagine their approach and incorporate a wide range of techniques, including collective filmmaking and computer simulations, all of which combine to create new and fresh experiences for viewers. By not being limited by a set style or medium, Kirschner’s work feels both fluid and expansive, offering a unique visual language that is ever-changing.
Their innovative approach has led to a broad international exhibition history, with their films being presented at some of the most prestigious festivals and institutions in the world, including the Berlinale, the BFI London Film Festival, and the International Short Film Festival Oberhausen. Kirschner’s recognition extends beyond exhibitions; in 2011, they won the prestigious Jarman Award, a major accolade for UK-based artists working in the moving image. Their films are distributed by LUX, one of the leading distributors of artists’ moving image work in the UK, and their films are also held in prominent collections such as the British Film Institute Artists’ Moving Image Collection in London and the Arsenal Institut für Film- und Videokunst in Berlin. Additionally, their works are part of several private collections, ensuring that Kirschner’s vision reaches diverse audiences worldwide.
As an academic, Blaise Kirschner currently serves as a Professor of Fine Art with a Focus on Moving Image at the Royal Institute of Art in Stockholm. In this capacity, they continue to influence and guide the next generation of artists working with moving image, sharing their expertise and encouraging new ways of thinking about and making art in the context of rapidly evolving technological landscapes.
At the heart of Kirschner’s work is a dedication to examining the world through the lens of art, using the moving image as a medium to spark critical conversations about the future, about power structures, and about the ways in which we interact with the environment and each other. Whether investigating the ecological crises we face or speculating about new forms of technology, their films offer a compelling vision of the future—one that is at once speculative and rooted in urgent present-day concerns.
The Jarman Award, a recognition of groundbreaking artists in the moving image, has been an important platform for Kirschner, allowing them to further develop and share their creative work. The award is named after Derek Jarman, a pioneering British artist, filmmaker, and activist who used film to challenge the status quo, much as Kirschner does today.
The Jarman Award exhibition, curated by Keith Whittle and Margherita Gramegna, was part of a curated program showcasing international artists working with the moving image. This event, supported by Film London, provided a space for innovative voices in film and video to be celebrated, including Kirschner’s significant contribution to the world of contemporary art.
