The artist duo Hanakam & Schuller’s new animation ‘Cosmic Commissioner’ offers a satirical take on typical AI-generated styles, such as new-age aesthetics, comic visuals, and hyperrealism.

At its center is the fictional Cosmic Commissioner, inspired by Austrian-born architect Victor Gruen, who, in the 1970s, shifted focus toward environmental planning in response to ecological destruction, the space race, and nuclear threats.

The film blends quotes from Gruen’s fictional dialogues with scenes featuring architects, military personnel, and activists, accompanied by synthetic disco-space sounds—transforming Cosmic Commissioner into a visual and acoustic journey through time, digital culture, and socio-political criticism.

Hanakam & Schuller, based in Vienna, have collaborated since 2004. Their practice bridges fine and applied arts, research, and contemporary visual culture. They have exhibited internationally at venues such as MAK Vienna, Palais de Tokyo Paris, Eyebeam NYC, and Garage Museum Moscow.