As an arts educator, Oliver Hockenhull brings a wealth of experience and expertise from his multifaceted career as a filmmaker, media and digital artist, writer, communication theorist, and educator. With a background deeply rooted in independent filmmaking and a penchant for baroque analysis, sudden poetics, humor, and visual play, Hockenhull's practice emphasizes an essayistic approach to documentary filmmaking. Through films like "Determinations," "Aldous Huxley: The Gravity of Light," and "Building Heaven, Remembering Earth," he explores philosophical and social themes, aiming to create works that reflect historical context while resonating with contemporary relevance and anticipating future movements.
In his teaching roles at institutions like the University of British Columbia, S.F.U., and Northwestern University, Hockenhull imparts his knowledge across various subjects including documentary film, short films, hypermedia, semiotics, and the history of cinema. He is deeply engaged with new media imaging and authoring technologies, having participated in pioneering projects exploring virtual reality and L-Systems. Additionally, his involvement in co-editing and co-designing critical works like "Damp: Contemporary Vancouver Media Arts" showcases his commitment to advancing discourse in the field.
With a forthcoming 80-minute 4k video that delves into the essence of photography and representation in the era of AI, Hockenhull continues to push boundaries and challenge conventional thinking, embodying Ernst Jünger's assertion that history is a contest between idolatrous images and the mind's capacity for thought. Through his practice and teaching, Hockenhull inspires students to critically engage with the arts, encouraging them to explore the intersections of technology, culture, and creativity.
