Marcuse Hafner: Media Art and Praxis des 21. Jahrhunderts

Marcuse Hafner is an established media artist, researcher, and curator based in Vienna, Austria. Operating under the artistic moniker renfah, Marcuse Hafner founded 'Praxis des 21. Jahrhunderts' (21st Century Practice), an atelier and research studio dedicated to the study of cultural history, critical theory, and visual communication. Holding a PhD from the University of Applied Arts Vienna, Marcuse Hafner has focused his academic and creative career on analyzing the symbolic structures and linguistic representations of globalized societies. The creative output of Marcuse Hafner is diverse, encompassing digital media, exhibition design, and experimental art that challenges traditional perceptions of everyday culture and communication. In October 2021, Marcuse Hafner suffered a major life-altering brain injury that significantly impacted his motor abilities. Demonstrating remarkable resilience, he adapted his practice by learning to draw with his left hand. These recent drawings have become a central part of his current portfolio, blending analog technique with digital innovation. The official website, renfah.com, serves as a platform for these projects, presenting his left-hand works as NFTs. This digital approach allows Marcuse Hafner to share his ongoing artistic journey while generating support for his rehabilitation and medical costs. Through his polylogical and sustainable inquiry, Marcuse Hafner continues to contribute to the contemporary art discourse in Vienna and beyond, transforming personal interruption into new forms of artistic expression and resilience.