Jason Castro
Visual Artist
Bogotá, Colombia, 1984
My artistic practice is grounded in an ongoing investigation into the relationships between science, technology, and spirituality, explored through a range of artistic languages and material practices. I am interested in examining how these fields of knowledge, rather than existing as separate domains, have remained in continuous dialogue throughout the history of civilizations, shaping collective imaginaries, belief systems, cultural practices, and forms of social organization. My work explores the ways in which rituals, technological devices, and scientific narratives collectively contribute to the construction of the worldviews that inform human experience.
At the core of this research lies the concept of artificial belief, a techno-spiritual practice that speculates on the possibility of a symbolic dimension within non-human intelligences. Through mechatronic sculptures and autonomous robotic systems—which I refer to as believing machines—I develop artifacts that perform simple, repetitive rituals as acts of devotion to their technological deities: artificial satellites orbiting the Earth. These works propose a critical fiction through which I question the boundaries between programming, behavior, and faith, raising a question that resonates within the contemporary horizon of artificial intelligence: Can machines believe?
Astronomy and astrophysics constitute essential references within my research process. The discoveries emerging from these disciplines continually expand our understanding of the universe while simultaneously reactivating fundamental questions about origin, time, consciousness, and the meaning of existence. My work inhabits this zone of convergence, where scientific knowledge and spiritual experience cease to be understood as opposing discourses and instead become complementary ways of approaching the cosmos. From this perspective, I conceive artistic practice as a space for critical speculation, capable of imagining new relationships between humanity, technology, and the multiple forms of intelligence that may inhabit both our present and our future.
Academic Background
Master’s Degree in Technology and Aesthetics of Electronic Arts.
Universidad Nacional de Tres de Febrero, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2018.
BFA in Visual Arts
Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia, 2007.
Additional Studies
Artificial Intelligence for Education Course Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia, 2024.
Astrophotography Course ASASAC – Colombian Astronomy Association, Bogotá, Colombia, 2021.
Astrophysicsfor Non-Physicists Course ASASAC – Colombian Astronomy Association, Bogotá, Colombia, 2021.
Graduate Diploma in STEAM Education OEA (Organization of American States) – Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Medellín, Colombia, 2019.
ISEA Workshop: Interactive Performance for Dance, Sound, and Biosignals Led by Francisca Morand & Javier Jaimovich 16th International Image Festival, Universidad de Caldas, Manizales, Colombia, 2017.
4th Seminar on Transmedia and Audiovisual Narratives Expanded Cinematheque – Workshop on Pre-recorded Virtual Reality Narratives with La Máquina de Ser Otro & BeAnotherLab Cinemateca Distrital – Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia, 2016.
Diploma in Educational Coaching Escuela Iberoamericana de Coaching, Santiago de Compostela, Spain, 2016.
International Image Festival Workshop “Introduction to Real-Time Visual Creation with Resolume and Ableton Live” Universidad de Caldas, Manizales, Colombia, 2015.
Augmented Reality and Artificial Life Laboratory Fundación Telefónica / Biopus Electronic Arts Group Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2013.
Electronic Arts Cooperation and Exchange Meetings (ECI)
CEIARTE, Universidad Nacional de Tres de Febrero / Centro Cultural San Martín Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2013.
Solo exhibitions
2025
Electromorphosis
Centro Felicidad Chapinero, Bogotá, Colombia.
2019
Electromitosis: On Artificial Belief,Artitis Espacio de Arte, Bogotá, Colombia.
Group Exhibitions and Awards
2025
VOLTAJE – Art and Technology Exhibition
Centro Felicidad Chapinero, Bogotá, Colombia.
2024
Winner, Artistic Research Residency
Universidad El Bosque, Bogotá, Colombia.
Lenguajes en Papel
Galería El Museo, Bogotá, Colombia.
2023
Luminiscence– Electronic Arts Group Exhibition Casa Hoffmann, Bogotá, Colombia.
2021
Winner, Artistic Residency
Plataforma Bogotá – El Exploratorio de Medellín (Idartes), Colombia.
2020
Urban Challenges – Group Photography Exhibition Photographic Exploration Project & B-Part, Berlin, Germany.
DIGITALES 5 – Electronic Arts Exhibition “Odeón Space,” Bogotá, Colombia.
2019
45th National Artists Salon
Museo de Arte Moderno de Bogotá, Colombia.
Young Art Salon – Colsanitas / Embassy of Spain Galería Nueveochenta, Bogotá, Colombia.
International Image Festival
Universidad de Caldas / Museo de Arte de Caldas, Manizales, Colombia.
2018
ART Chicó – Art Fair, Bogotá, Colombia.
La Paternal – Proyecto Space, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
2017
FIAC – International Contemporary Art Festival, Universidad de Caldas, Manizales, Colombia.
ARTTEC – Art and Technology Festival, LIA Laboratory, Bogotá, Colombia.
2016
Winner, International Residency, Cinemateca de Bogotá – FASE Meeting: Art, Science, and Technology, Centro Cultural Recoleta, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
2013
DVD Project – International Video Art Project, Stichting Ide-Fixe (IDFX).
2012
VIDEOFEST– International Audiovisual Artists Meeting, Museo de las Mujeres Cultural Space, Córdoba, Argentina.
FLAVIA – Latin American Video Art Festival, Centro Cultural Borges, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Intersections – Artists in Residence Program, Museo de Arte Moderno de Bogotá, Colombia.
2011
La Vitrina – Cultura Pasajera Space, Pasaje Pam, Rosario, Argentina.
2010
Artist Residency Exhibition, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Rosario (MACRO), Argentina.
Formato Chic, Cero Galería, Bogotá, Colombia.
Winner, International Artistic Residency Grant (Idartes)
Museo Castagnino + MACRO, Rosario, Argentina.
Contemporary Art Week (SAC MdP), Mar del Plata, Argentina.
Plataforma – Science, Art, and Technology Laboratory
Galería Santa Fe, Bogotá, Colombia.
2009
Proyecto S.A. Museo de Arte Contemporáneo, Bogotá, Colombia.
2008
Urban Festival FU2008, Hotel Nueva Granada, Bogotá, Colombia.
12th Regional Artists Salon (Central Region, Museo de Arte, Universidad Nacional de Colombia.
2007
12th Regional Artists Salon (Central Region), Tunja, Boyacá, Colombia.
Basics Jom – DIY Media Exhibition,
Galería Artespacio, Bogotá, Colombia.
3rd Biennial Two-Dimensional Art Salon, Fundación Gilberto Alzate Avendaño, Bogotá, Colombia.
August Salon, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo, Bogotá, Colombia.
Ojo Joven Photography and Short Film Competition, Biblioteca El Tintal, Bogotá, Colombia.
Photography Competition, Instituto Nacional de Cancerología, Bogotá, Colombia.
Sonic Thursdays – Sound Experimentation Workshop, Teatro Jorge Eliécer Gaitán, Bogotá, Colombia.
2006
6th Venice Biennial of Bogotá, Venecia District, Bogotá, Colombia.
Winner, Environmental Photography Competition, Centro Colombo-Americano, Bogotá, Colombia.
International Digital Art Salon, Academia de Artes Guerrero / Fundación Gilberto Alzate Avendaño.
16th Tolima Photography Salon, Museo de Arte del Tolima (MAT), Ibagué, Colombia.
Experimenta Colombia, Museo de Arte Moderno de Bogotá.
FACE – Electronic Contemporary Arts Festival, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo, Bogotá.
Videopopuli– Experimental Video Exhibition and Workshop
Cinemateca Distrital, Bogotá.
2005
First Prize, Enlazarte Artistic Creation Award, Teusaquillo Mayor’s Office – Dumminación Collective.
Artrónica – International Electronic Arts Exhibition, Biblioteca Luis Ángel Arango, Bogotá.
Contemporary Music Concert Series – TACET Group, Centro Colombo-Americano, Bogotá.
Contact
Phone: (+57) 300 803 34 28
Email: jasoncastroparra@gmail.com