The video installation "a²" addresses the physical and mental expectations projected onto individuals socialized as male in society. The artist takes on the role of the pressured man themselves. A self-improvement coach symbolizes the pressure of these expectations. This constant tension results in an endless "optimization loop" that the affected person is subject to. There is a constant interplay between eating, exercising, and the pressure to conform to the image of the toxically masculine man.

The video installation premiered at the Open Day of the University of Arts Linz on March 20, 2024. Credits: Camera: Pat Göckert | Actor: Ivo Cerwenka