Oliver Grau

Oliver Grau is a Chair Professor for Image Science and a leading figure in Media Art research, affiliated with Hong Kong Baptist University (Academy of Visual Arts, Distinguished Fellow since 2023) and Danube University Krems (Chair Professor for Image Science from 2005–2022). He founded the Archive for Digital Art (ADA) and the international MediaArtHistories Conference Series, with key roles at institutions across Germany, Austria, and Australia. His work bridges art, science, and technology, focusing on immersive images, digital heritage, and emotion research.

• Key Positions: Director of ADA (since 2000), Founding Director of MediaArtHistories Conference Series (since 2005), PI for high-resolution digitization of the Goettweig Graphic Print Collection (2005–2017).
• Research Grants: Funded by DFG, Austrian Science Fund, Australian Research Council, VW Foundation (total 8.3 Mio EUR), and Erasmus+ Joint Master program (5.4 Mio EUR).

Research Interests: Grau’s scholarship spans the history of media art, telepresence, artificial life, emotion research, and digital humanities. His work emphasizes the evolution of immersive visual experiences from historical art forms to digital media, integrating theoretical and practical approaches.

Article Trends: His recent publications focus on digital art’s sociopolitical dimensions, archiving challenges in the digital era, and cross-disciplinary methodologies. Themes include media art conservation, web-based tools for digital humanities, and the intersection of artistic expression with contemporary global issues like climate change and surveillance.

• Scientific Awards:
  • Distinguished Fellow at Hong Kong Baptist University (2023)
  • Science Award of Lower Austria (2019)
  • Honorary Doctorate from University of Oradea (2014)
  • Invitations to G-20 summit, Olympic Games, and international symposia

Labs & Teams: He leads the Archive for Digital Art, managing a global team of 28 staff, and co-founded the Erasmus+ Joint Master in Media Arts Cultures. His projects emphasize collaborative archiving tools (e.g., Web 2.0/3.0 archives) and large-scale digitization initiatives.