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BIO
Juan Manuel Escalante
born: Mexico City
based in: Southern California (USA)
Escalante is an artist and educator working with computer code, modular synthesizers, and analog drawings. His work has been shown in major festivals and exhibitions worldwide. He was a member of the National System of Art Creators (2017-2019 National Endowment for the Arts, MWX) and received the Corwin Award (1st prize) for Electronic-Acoustic Composition in 2016.
Escalante holds an MFA in Architecture Design (UNAM) and a Ph.D. in Media Arts & Technology (University of California, Santa Barbara).
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ARTIST STATEMENT
My work relies on diagrams to parse the inner and outside world (if there is such a distinction). These maps become machines of abstraction. They enable the translation of one medium, domain, or dataset into another. I use sound, drawings, and code to complete a process where computer programming occupies a central role, serving as an orchestration mechanism. Throughout most of my practice, source material, both empirical and speculative, is reinterpreted through a process of stochastic computation.
As a result, the work manifests through a wide range of outputs, such as performances, audiovisual work, graphic notation, print, and screen-based media. Over time, all of these forms rescript one another and keep the process in a state of flux. My work today is a consequence of these transformative mechanisms with all their chaos, dynamics, and poetics.
EDUCATION
2014 - 2020
Ph.D. in Media Arts and Technology University of California, Santa Barbara Advisors: Curtis Roads (chair), Marko Peljhan, Andrés Cabrera
2004 - 2006
Master of Architecture Advisors: María Elena Hernández (chair), Álvaro Sánchez González School of Architecture, National University of Mexico (UNAM)
1999 - 2003
Bachelor of Architecture Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana - Xochimilco *Medal of Excellence / Best GPA of class 99
AWARDS + GRANTS
2023
Far South Border North Grant
California Arts Council / The Conrad Prebys Foundation (USA)
2022
Faculty Recognition for Teaching
California State University, Fullerton (USA)
Faculty Enhancement and Instructional Development (FEID) Award
Faculty Development Center - California State University, Fullerton (USA)
2021
Virtual and Online Innovations and Curricular Enhancements, 1st prize
Categories: Inclusive Teaching & Student Engagement
California State University, Fullerton (USA)
Faculty Recognition for Scholarly and Creative Activity
California State University, Fullerton (USA)
2019
Olivia Long Graduate Fellowship
Graduate Division, UCSB
Mildred. E Mathias Graduate Research Grant
UC Natural Reserve System
2017 - 2020
Member of the National System of Art Creators
National Endowment for the Arts FONCA (MEX)
2016
Corwin Award - Electronic-Acoustic Composition, 1st prize
Music Department, UC Santa Barbara (USA)
Project: The Sound Digestive System
2014 - 2017
UC International Regent Fellow
University of California, Santa Barbara (USA)
2013
Young Creator Fellowship
National Endowment for the Arts FONCA (MEX)
Project: Cannon Fodder
Data Journalism Award, finalist
Global Editors Network, World Summit (FRA)
Project: 34612
2012
Songwriting Composition, 2nd prize
Foro del Tejedor (MEX)
2011
Young Creator Fellowship
National Endowment for the Arts FONCA (MEX)
Project: Garden of Dystopia
Best Electronic Art Piece, 1st prize
ArteShock DocuSeries, TV UNAM (MEX)
Project: 34612
2002
Best Multimedia Application, 1st prize
Association of Multimedia Developers AMU, UNAM (MEX)
2003
a! International Design Award, finalist
a! Magazine (MEX)
Best Multimedia Application, 1st prize
Association of Multimedia Developers AMU, UNAM (MEX)
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2018
Diagrammatics
The Glass Box Gallery (USA)
2017
MeanTime
The Glass Box Gallery (USA)
2012
Algorithmic Hermeneutics
National Center for the Arts (MEX)
2011
34612
Garash Galería (MEX)
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CURATORIAL WORK
2024
Diagrammatic Machines, The FRONT Gallery (USA)
2020
LED Drive-In Event, Cal State Fullerton (USA)
2015
MAT End of Year Show, UC Santa Barbara (USA)
*co-curated with Fabian Offert
2012
Algorithmic Topographies
University Museum of Sciences and Arts MUCA (MEX)
Analogue Nostalgia, Sala Margolīn (MEX)
2020
Preludio: Arte Digital Generativo, Luis Unikel Library,
School of Architecture, UNAM (MEX)
GROUP SHOWS + FESTIVALS
2024
TENOR 24, Zurich (CHE)
Curator: Micha Seidenberg
2022
Primarolia Art Festival, Aegio (GRC)
Curator: Alex Karantanas
Athens Digital Arts Festival, Athens (GRC)
Curator: Alez Karantanas
Future Tense, Jim Thompson Art Center, Bangkok (THA)
Curator: Girdthiya Gaweewong
Redirecciones Visuales,
Centro Mexicano para la Música y Artes Sonoras (MEX)
Curators: Jorge Flores + Gabriela Reyes
2021
Generative Unfoldings, Massachusetts Institute of Technology MIT (USA)
Curators: Nick Monfort
Ars Electronica, Expanded Animation (AUT)
2019
M.A.D.E. California NanoSystems Institute (USA)
Curators: the MAT EoYS Team
2018
UCSB Summer Music Fesival, UC Santa Barbara (USA)
Curator: Rodney DuPlessis
2017
Plums Fest, ArtPlay Design Center, Moscow (RUS)
Curator: Anna Bychkova
CURRENTS New Media Festival, Santa Fe (USA)
Curator: Yoon C Han
The Future is Now, Holon Institute of Technology (ISR)
Curator: Zachi Dinar
2016
SV + VS, Dongdaemun History and Culture Park, Seoul (KOR)
Curator: Yoon C Han
2015
Sonifying Visuals + Visualizing Sound, Fellows of Contemporary Art,
Los Angeles (USA) Curator: Yoon C Han
New Realities, Mobile World Capital Barcelona (ESP)
Curator: Carmen Salas (AlphaVille)
Open Sources, California NanoSystems Institute (USA)
Curator: Fabian Offert
2014
Muerte Chiquita, Gurú Galería (MEX)
Curator: Nadia Islas
Creación en Movimiento, San Pedro Art Museum, Puebla (MEX)
2013
D-Dessin, represented by Yam Gallery (FRA)
Curator: Marié Moebius, Adolfo Caballero.
Muerte Chiquita, Gurú Galería (MEX)
Curator: Nadia Islas
Paralelas Contemporáneas IV, Oscar Román Gallery (MEX)
Curator: Oscar Román
Proceso, Gurú Galería (MEX)
Curator: Nadia Islas
2012
Creación en Movimiento, Center for the Arts SLP (MEX)
Art and New Media ShowCase, National Center for the Arts (MEX)
2011
Infographics Exhibition, Cardiff History Museum (GBR)
Curator: Spike Dennis
Cardiff Design Festival, Sho Gallery (GBR)
Curator: Spike Dennis
Expo *BTCR, School of Architecture, UNAM (MEX)
Curators: Francisco Erazo, Jhavier Loeza
2010
Arte Actual, Contemporary Art Museum, Aguascalientes (MEX)
PERFORMANCES
2022
CONTACT: 17th Biennial Symposium on Arts and Technology,
Ammerman Center for Arts and Technology.
Project: Neutral Friend, Unknown Enemy
2018
PIF Camp: Nature + Nerdture, Soča (SVN)
Project: Zvoki Soče
2017
Metronomes of the Spirit
Santa Barbara Center for Art, Science, and Technology (USA)
Project: The Aesthetics of Farewells
Volcán (*closed doors event)
The Systemics Lab, California NanoSystems Institute (USA)
Project: Volcán
MeanTime
Live-electronic improvisation, the Glass Box Gallery (USA)
2016
Procedencia (encore)
Santa Barbara Center for Art, Science, and Technology (USA)
Project: Procedencia
2015
Open Sources, California NanoSystems Institute (USA)
Project: Lu.Ki.Dus
2013
Festival NRML, Centro de Cultura Digital (MEX)
Mutek Festival MX, Cine Tonalá (MEX)
Project: Procedencia / La Ilusión de lo Diferente
Mutek Festival MX, La Faena Concert Hall (MEX)
Project: Klik + Frik
New Benshi Sessions, Cine Tonalá (MEX)
Project: Procedencia
Ceremonia Festival, Toluca (MEX)
Project: Procedencia
Miscelánea, La Esmeralda, National Center for the Arts (MEX)
Project: La Vitesse de Libération
Zona MACO Art Fair (MEX)
Project: Jardín de la Distopía
2012
Black Box, Woody Allen Cultural Center (MEX)
Project: BCTR
2011
Artefactos, Ex-Teresa Arte Actual (MEX)
/* Vivo Live Coding Festival, National Center for the Arts (MEX)
2010
Computer Music Showcase
Centro Multimedia, National Center for the Arts (MEX)
Project: Miseria/Preludio
PUBLICATIONS
Papers and Book Chapters
Escalante, J.M., Yu, Yin. Audiovisual Performance Notation. Expanded Animation: Tectonic Shift. Synaesthetic Syntax. Ars Electronica Festival, Linz (2021)
Escalante, J.M., The Sound Digestive System: a Strategy for Music and Sound Composition in: Proceedings of EvoMUSART 2015, Network of Excellence in Evolutionary Computing, Copenhagen (2015)
Escalante, J.M., (2012) (book foreword). In Erazo, F, Lhoeza X, *.BTCR (pp. 4-7), Mexico City, MEX.:Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
Escalante, J.M., (2008) Nuevos horizontes digitales. In Hernández, M.E., Hennings, V. “De otras historias, asuntos e interpretaciones de la arquitectura americana no divulgadas o poco conocidas“. Mexico City, MEX. Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios de Posgrado de la Facultad de Arquitectura, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
Escalante, J.M., (2006) CTRL-X :: ¡No al copy/paste! Nuevos horizontes digitales/espaciales. In Fuentes, E. “Las nuevas tecnologías y su inserción en la plástica tradicional“. (pp 19-28) , Mexico City, MEX. Instituto de Investigaciones Estéticas. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
Escalante, J.M., (2004) La Torre de Ingeniería. In “Diseño en síntesis: reflexiones sobre la cultura del diseño”, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, 14.34
Escalante, J.M., (2004) Historia de una ciudad suspendida o todo es espacio. In “Arquitectura y Humanidades”, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
Exhibition Catalogs and Extended Performance Programs
2021
Sof Tectonics Photo Essay (w/ Yin Yu)
6 x 9 in. 40 pages.
2018
An Incomplete Compendium of Uncertainties
4 x 6 in. 48 pages.
Procedencia, Performance Program
5 x 8 in. 54 pages.
MeanTime Exhibition Catalog
6 x 9 in. 60 pages.
2016
SV + VF Exhibition Catalog
Designed by Yoon C Han
8 x 10 in. 29 pages.
Open Sources Exhibition Catalog
w / Fabian Offert
7 x 10 in. 116 pages
2011
Artefactos Book
7 x 7 in. 120 pages.
Limited-run Editions + Artist Books
2018
Zvoki Soče (Sounds of Soča)
7 x 7 in, 30 pages.
2015
The Sound Digestive System
8 x 10 in, 120 pages.
2014
Gozadero Stage
10 x 8 in. 440 pages.
2011
Algorithmic Hermeneutics
8 x 10 in. 150 pages.
2010
Manifiesto
5 x 8 in. 440 pages
INVITED TALKS AND PANELS
2022
Art in the Post-Digital Age
TryCities Global Network (FRA) (MEX) (CAN) (VNM)
Guest Lecture - Artist Talk
ART 483T: Art World, Cal State Fullerton (USA)
Artist Talk
ARTHIST 163: Digital Visual Studies, UC Santa Barbara (USA)
2021
Generative Approaches for the Arts and Design
ART22: Computer Programming for the Arts, UC Santa Barbara (USA)Charla de Artista: Juan M. Escalante
Art Department, Universidad de las Americas Puebla (MEX)
Punto. Linea. Sonido
School of Design, Instituto Tecnologico de Monterrey,
Campus Sonora (MEX)
Critical Machine Learning for Net-Artists
Department of Germanic and Slavic Studies, UC Santa Barbara (USA)
Mobile Media
ART 102, Art Department, UC Santa Barbara (USA)
2018
Zvoki Soče / Sounds of Soča
The MAT Seminar, UC Santa Barbara (USA)
2015
Iteraciones: programar, cultivar, continuar
Salon Abierto Festival, National Center for the Arts CENART (MEX)The Sound Digestive System
Evostar Conference, National Museum of Denmark (DNK)
2008
Modern Website Design
4th Forum of Online Academic Publishing, UNAM (MEX)
La Arquitectura en la Era de la Post-Revolucion Digital
School of Architecture & Design, UAM-X (MEX)
2007
Podcasts as Learning Tools
International Symposium for Education and Technology.
Mexican Society of Educational Technologies, SOMECE (MEX)Architecture in the Age of Post-Digital Revolution
International Conference in Architecture,
Urbanism and Design Computation, School of Architecture, UNAM (MEX)
2006
No al copy/paste! Ciberespacio y nuevos horizontes espaciales
New Technologies and the Traditional Visual Arts Symposium
School of Art and Design, FAD-UNAM (MEX)
2004
Uqbar
III New and Traditional Approaches to the Visual Arts.
School of Architecture and Design, FES Aragon (MEX)
The Scientific Method: an Interactive Approach
Presentation of Interactive CD-ROM.
International Symposium on New Technologies and Computation
Mexican Society of Educational Technologies, SOMECE (MEX)
2001
Interactive Methods for the Display + Navigation of Architectural Plans
II Ibero-American Summit of Innovative Pedagogical
Material and Technologies for Education
Autonomous Metropolitan University, UAM (MEX)
Interactive Games for Education Case Study: Vitaminas y Co-Enzimas
XVI International Symposium for Education and Technology
Mexican Society of Educational Technologies, SOMECE (MEX)
A Virtual Microscope
II Ibero-American Summit of Innovative Pedagogical Material
and Technologies for Education, UAM-X (MEX)
Game Design for Education, the Biochemistry Interactive Manual
II Ibero-American Summit of Innovative Pedagogical Material
and Technologies for Education, UAM-X (MEX)
2000
The Optical Microscope
Interactive Software Presentation (CD-ROM)
International Symposium for Education and Technology, SOMECE (MEX)
Interactive Tutorials for Bio-Chemistry Equations
International Symposium for Education and Technology, SOMECE (MEX)
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2024 - present
Associate Professor in Graphic and Interactive Design *
Department of Art, California State University, Fullerton (USA) *early tenure
2020 - 2024
Assistant Professor in Graphic and Interactive Design
Department of Art, California State University, Fullerton (USA)
Courses taught: 483F: Design for Interactive Art
483I: Motion Graphics
483E: Computer Assisted Graphics
223C: Digital Typography
323A: Graphic Design
2018 - 2019
Lecturer, Department of Art,
University of California Santa Barbara (USA)
Course taught: ART 22: Introduction to Programming for the Arts
(four quarters/iterations)
2009 - 2014
Lecturer and Research Staff
Graduate Program in Architecture Design
School of Architecture, National University of Mexico, UNAM (MEX)
Courses taught: Architecture and New Media
Graduate-level seminar, several iterations.
PREGRAMA
(Computer Drawings)
MICROSONIC LANDSCAPES
Co-Instructor: Hugo I. E. Almazan and
Julián Covarrubias
(Digital fabrication and creative coding)
MÁQUINAS SONORAS
Co-Instructor: Hugo I. E. Almazan
(Audiovisual experimentation)
ARTEFACTOS
Co-Instructor: Cecilia Sanchez Nava
(Creative coding and electronics)
NOSTALGIA ANALÓGICA
Co-Instructors: Claudia Arana, Mario Prado
(Creative coding and traditional printing)
GRAFíA MANUAL DEGENERATIVA
Co-Instructor: Francisco Erazo
(Situationist workshop)
TOPOGRAFÍA ALGORÍTMICA
(Creative coding and digital fabrication)
SPECIAL TOPCS IN DESIGN
Co-Instructors: Fernando Martin Juez,
Alejandro Cabeza
HIGH-IMPACT DEVELOPMENT OF DIGITAL PEDAGOGICAL TOOLS
(One semester)
ADDITIONAL SHORT ONE-TIME WORKSHOPS AND COURSES
2024
Diagrammatic Machines
Binational initiative supported by the City of San Diego
San Diego, CA (USA)
Tijuana, BC (MEX)
2016
Personal Mentorship
University of California, Santa Barbara (USA)
Personal artistic mentorship for Cemre Koc
2014
Interactive Visual Applications
Centro de Cultura Digital, CCD (MEX)
2012
Generative Art Workshop
Gray Area Foundation for the Arts (USA)
*/ vivo */ Live Coding Workshop
National Center for the Arts (MEX)
2007
Podcast Production
National Autonomous University of Mexico (MEX)
Co-Instructor: Carlos Bautista
2006 - 2005
W3: Interactive Academic Contents
Pedagogical content creation for the web
UNAM (multiple campuses and editions) (MEX)
2003
Content Development for Remote Learning
Media Lab, FES-Zaragoza, UNAM (MEX)
Interactive Pedagogical Media with Flash
National High School, Campus no.05 (MEX)
High-impact Content Creation for the Web
Media Lab, FES-Zaragoza, UNAM (MEX)
2002
High-impact Content Creation for the Web
Autonomous University of Chiapas (MEX)
2001
Pedagogical applications with Macromedia Flash
Media Lab, FES-Zaragoza, UNAM (MEX)
AFFILIATIONS + OTHER INITIATIVES
2015-2019
Koç Lab - Designer in Residence
Computer Science Department, UC Santa Barbara (USA) 2013 Arte + Ciencia Think Tank Role: Member. School of Philosophy
2013-2015
Bitácora - Editorial Board Member
Peer-reviewed Journal.
School of Architecture, UNAM (MEX)
2005-2004
Architecthum - Editorial Board Member
Peer-reviewed online magazine. School of Architecture, Graduate Program in Architecture Design, UNAM (MEX)
2012-2015
PMX Processing Mexico Founder
Cultural Hub as a part of the Processing Cities Network (MEX)
2006
Media Lab - Founder
Graduate School of Architecture, UNAM (MEX)
2001
Laboratorio Multimedia - Co-Founder
FES Zaragoza Campus, UNAM (MEX)
ADDITIONAL STUDIES
2020
Laser Safety Officer Training, The Laser Institute (LIA)
2018
The Radical Listener, Field Recording Workshop
Instructor: Lawrence English
SenseMini Workshop
Instructor: Václav Pelousek (BASTL)
2016
OMS Synth Minilab, Electronics + Synth Workshop
Instructor: Peter Edwards (Casper Electronics)
2013
Typeface Creation
Instructor: Mónica Munguía
2010
Algorithmic Composition
Instructor: Ernesto Romero
Interactive Art with Open Source Tools
Instructor: David Cuartielles (Arduino)
2004
Advanced Actionscript
Instructor: Fernando Florez
2003
Advance Creative Programming
Instructor: Iván Abreu
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