Artist's statement
Anatomically incorrect finger positions are (still) among the most clearly recognisable indicators of AI-generated content. I make use of this weakness in the film. The prompt: Count from 1 to 5 on one hand. Does the AI outperform the human model here too?
Artist's statement
Michael Heindl’s piece ‘Higher Five’ cleverly raises questions about the limits of artificial intelligence. To do so, he exploits the inability of generative AI to depict hands anatomically correctly. The background – depicting an AI simulation that has failed in its task – alludes to the context in which it was created: image-editing software. This is a subtle hint that adds to the expressiveness of this simple image.
Gallery
Further Information
Michael Heindl, born in Linz in 1988, studied painting at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna and at the NCAD in Dublin. Heindl, who lives and works in Vienna, explores the contradictions and paradoxes of human behaviour in the face of a present that is experienced as fraught with crisis. His work has received numerous awards, including the Crossing Europe Innovation Award 2026 and the Jury Prize at VIS 2021. Exhibitions/Film Festivals (selection): Innsbruck Biennale 24, MSUB Belgrade, Picture Theory Gallery NYC, IFFR Rotterdam, Oberhausen Short Film Festival, VIENNALE, Hong Kong Arts Centre, Vancouver International Film Festival, Kunsthalle Wien, Forum Stadtpark Graz, Galerie 5020 Salzburg.
Time Period
July 6 to August 30, 2026
The film won an award as part of the 20 SECONDS FOR ART 2026 short film competition, organized by INFOSCREEN and KÖR Wien.