Juan Cortes

Juan Cortés is a Colombian artist who uses research and interdisciplinary processes to explore the connections between art, science and educational processes. His practice takes on multiple forms such as installation works, audio recordings, and concert pieces.
Cortés’ interest in sound and natural forces act as the basis and foundation of his art, especially through interactions between disciplines and techniques, and research-led practices. He uses his scientific upbringing and natural artistic abilities to break down complicated theories, happenings and phenomena into understandable, and often hands-on, installations and machinery, or “translation machines”.
Designed and produced in a lab and inspired by the residency Cortes did at CERN in 2018. Cortes was the recipient of the 2018 collide Residency Award. The Machines have a highly scientific appearance through the use of materials like TVs, computer, robots, acoustic levitators and LED lights. They interpret phenomena like atmospheric disturbances and solar flares, or concepts like dark matter and black holes, by processing coded algorithms, scientific data, sound and light waves.
Through his work, Cortés aims to bridge the gap between the realm of science and humanity. The result is intelligible art on a micro scale that is arresting and unique.