Also in this series, Steinacher weaves in autobiographical elements – the difficult relationship with her mother, often marked by a toxic presence: a closeness that suffocates, a presence that takes the air to breathe.

INVISIBLE THREAT

Nature is within us. It breathes us – just as we breathe it.
But what happens when humans transform what sustains them into something toxic?
Air becomes a testimony of human behavior – saturated with traces of greed, ignorance, and convenience.
It’s not only the space around us that becomes polluted, but the very essence of our existence.

And yet, within this lies the potential for reversal:
Every breath reminds us that change is not only possible – it is necessary.

VISIBLE CONSEQUENCES

The colorful, AI-generated gas masks, used as backgrounds for Steinacher’s monumental portraits, are a striking symbol of a threat we often disguise or deny – a visual confrontation with the ignorance of our time.
They challenge us to face the forces that threaten our existence – before it’s too late.

Within these short animations there is always a symbol of hope – quiet and almost poetic, offering a visual counterpoint to the weight of the world and a silent call for awareness, responsibility, and the courage to change.

SCAN ME: AI ANIMATION OF THIS ARTWORK