Statement
OPN Studio - Susana Ballesteros & Jano Montañes
OPN Studio is a collaborative artist duo formed in 2007 by Susana Ballesteros and Jano Montañés. Their work delves into the convergence of Art, Science, and Technology within a social context, exploring interactive installations, sculptures, and multimedia art, all conveyed through the mediums of electronics, robotics, audiovisual elements, programming, and artificial intelligence.
Their research examines the individual within a larger framework, focusing on the various aspects of the human experience, including social existence, mortality, and the physical body.
With nearly two decades of experience, their works have been displayed in museums, art venues, and festivals globally, investigating how human identity evolves, adapts, and is redefined in the digital age.
Susana Ballesteros Boullosa (born in Zaragoza, Spain) holds a MSc in Marketing and Communications Management from Oxford Brookes University (UK). She has also completed the specialization in Service Design promoted by the University of Zaragoza (Spain). Besides she earned a Degree in Product Design from San Valero University in Zaragoza (Spain). For the last 20 years, Susana has explored the social implications of media transformation, cibernetics, transhumanism and the human-machine relationship, assessing approaches between the new languages in the digital age and our identity, exploring how emerging technologies reshape our understanding of what it means to be human. All these developments have led to lectures, workshops and presentations in universities, museums, festivals and art institutions such as «Energy Utopia- Organic Reality Conference» NTMOFA Taiwan National Museum of Fine Arts Taichung (Taiwan); «Bubble, speculative criticism Talk» MEET Digital Culture Center Milan (Italy); «In Search of Autonomous Voices» Trash Table WROART Wroclaw (Poland); «The Pure Voice – Nowka Sztuka Speaks Conference» Cracow University (Poland) or by taking part in «Aproximaciones al Arte V, Bioarte y Vida Artificial Conference» Jon Astorquiza’s lecture in Guggenheim Museum Bilbao (Spain).
Jano Montañés Garrido (born in Zaragoza, Spain) holds a Master in Financial Markets and Derivatives. He also earned a Degree in Business Administration and Management. He has also completed the specialization in Service Design promoted by the University of Zaragoza (Spain). For the last 20 years, Jano has investigated human identity as a complex construct shaped by biological, social, psychological and cultural factors. He has analyzed its physical forms, emotional experiences, cognitive abilities and social interactions rooted in today’s society and rethinking them within the current socio-technological paradigm shift. All these developments have led to workshops, lectures and presentations in museums, art institutions, universities and festivals such as «Tropo» a workshop through ProFuturo, educational innovation program with technology launched by the Telefónica Foundation Madrid (Spain),«EMO-Draw the sound Workshop» Wurth Museum. La Rioja (Spain), Millennials, Arte y Tecnología en la generación Millennial Lecture» LABoral Centro de Arte y Creación Industrial. Gijón (Spain);«Technology as a transmitter mean Lecture» Technarte Los Angeles California (EEUU).
United in their creative vision, Susana Ballesteros & Jano Montañés continually redefine the intersections of art, technology, and social dialogue, crafting impactful works that resonate with and inspire global audiences.
SOLO EXHIBITION
SOLO EXHIBITION
2017- «Give my creation… Life!» Galerija Kapelica. Ljubljana (Slovenia)
2016- «Give my creation… Life!» Etopia, Center for Art and Technology. Zaragoza (Spain)
2015- «Límbica» BilbaoArte Foundation. Bilbao (Spain)
2013- “Kokemuksen Kehtolaulu” Galería Nuble (Jose de la Fuente Gallery). Santander (Spain)
2011- «Límbica» Espacio Casyc Up Caja Cantabria. Santander (Spain)
GROUP EXHIBITION
GROUP EXHIBITION
2025- «Horizonte. El poder del agua en la Colección Würth» Wurth Museum. La Rioja (Spain)
2024- «Decentralized Futures» Dutch Design Week – Baltan Laboratories. Eindhoven (Netherlands)
2024- «Millennials» LABoral Centro de Arte y Creación Industrial. Gijón (Spain)
2024- «Futuros descentralizados» Etopía, Centro d Arte y Tecnología. Zaragoza (Spain)
2024- «El otro lado de la Luna II» Sala Concepción Arenal. Santander (Spain)
2023- «WRO Media Art Biennale» Galeria Geppart. Wroclaw (Poland)
2023- «Construyendo una colección» IAACC Pablo Serrano Museum. Zaragoza (Spain)
2022- «Archivos Posibles 2022» Museu d’Art Contemporani de Barcelona (MACBA). Barcelona (Spain)
2022- «Cajal 2022. Una Visión artística» Museo Pablo Gargallo. Zaragoza (Spain)
2021- «Visiones majaras» La Casa Encendida. Madrid (Spain)
2021- «IDKF Festival» Werkstatthaus. Stuttgart (Germany)
2021- «XXIV Rencontres Internationales Traverse» Toulouse (France)
2021- «Poéticas Surrealistas» IAACC Pablo Serrano Museum. Zaragoza (Spain)
2020- Gran Premio «Santa Isabel de Aragón, Reina de Portugal 2020» Palacio de Sástago. Zaragoza (Spain)
2019- «Art Beijing 2019» Pekin (China)
2018- «3 Artistas/ 6 Espacios» IAACC Pablo Serrano Museum. Zaragoza (Spain)
2017- «Hot Body, Cool Tech: Performative and Choreographed Bodies in New Media» NTMOFA Taiwan National Museum of Fine Arts (Taiwan)
2017- «All is motion» Wurth Museum. La Rioja (Spain)
2017- «Perro» Hobusepea Galerie. Tallinn (Estonia)
2016- «Traverse Video» Cinematheque. Toulouse (France)
2016- «XLVI Premios Ciudad de Alcalá» Antiguo Hospital de Santa María la Rica» Alcalá de Henares (Spain)
2015- «Technarte 2015» LACDA Gallery. Los Angeles, California (EEUU)
2015- “La nada ante el espejo”. Astarte Gallery. Madrid (Spain)
2015- “Fachada Media”. Etopía, Center for Art & Tech. Zaragoza (Spain)
2014- Inner Nature «La mística del cuerpo consciente» UPV, Palau 2014. Video-art International Exhibition, Valencia, Salamanca (Spain), Santiago de Chile (Chile), Jyväskylä (Finland) and Marnay sur Seine (France)
2014- «23 Premio Internacional de Gráfica Máximo Ramos 2014» Centro Torrente Ballester (Spain)
2014- «Open Studios» BilbaoArte Foundation. Bilbao (Spain)
2013- «Estudio 120 m» Museo Wurth La Rioja (Spain)
2013- “Gallery Weekend Santander 2013” Fundación Santander Creativa (Spain)
2013- “Diálogos” Museo de Arte Contemporáneo Patio Herreriano de Valladolid (Spain)
2012- «ARCO 2012 Internacional Contemporany Art Fair» Nuble Gallery. Madrid. (Spain)
2012- “XXVI Premio de Arte Santa Isabel de Aragón, Reina de Portugal” Palacio de Sástago. Zaragoza (Spain)
2012- “Artistas de la Colección DKV” El Águila y la Parra. Santillana del Mar (Spain)
2012- “Injuve Aragón 2011” Museo Provincial Teruel (Spain)
2011- “Injuve Premio Nacional” Centro Cultural de España Tegucigalpa (Honduras) / Santo Domingo (República Dominicana) / Guatemala / El Salvador (San Salvador)
2011- “Injuve Aragón 2011” IAACC Pablo Serrano Museum Zaragoza (Spain)
2011- “Injuve Aragón 2010” Museo Provincial Teruel / Museo Provincial de Huesca (Spain)
2011- “Okuparte 2011” Antiguo seminario. Huesca (Spain)
2010- “Injuve Premio Nacional” Círculo de Bellas Artes de Madrid (Spain)
2010- “30 Aniversario AAPGA” Sala expositiva Ibercaja Áctur Zaragoza (Spain)
2009- “Open Art, Talleres Internacionales de Arte Contemporáneo” CHZ Centro de Historia de Zaragoza. (Spain)
2009- “Okuparte” Almacén de ideas. Huesca. (Spain)
2008- “Retrovisores” Sala Hnos. Bayeu. Diputación General Aragón. Zaragoza. (Spain)
AWARDS AND GRANTS
AWARDS AND GRANTS
2023- Grant «Artecho, Art, Economy & Technology» (Europe)
2022- Residence & Grant EMARE (European Media Artist in residence Exchange) WRO Art Center. Wroclaw (Poland)
2020- First Prize «Gran premio Santa Isabel de Aragón, Reina de Portugal 2020» (Spain)
2016- Selection «Les 19 Rencontres de Traverse Video» Toulouse (France)
2015- Selection HAMACA – Museo Reina Sofía MNCARS (Spain)
2015- Selection Technarte International Conference Art and Technology Bilbao (Spain) / Los Angeles (EEUU)
2015- Selection “XLVI Premio de Artes Plásticas Ciudad de Alcalá” (Spain)
2015- Selection Madrid Art Process Room V Madrid (Spain)
2014- Grant BBK Bilbao Arte 2014 (Spain)
2014- Selection «23 Premio Internacional Máximo Ramos» (Spain)
2014- Selection «Inner Nature» UPV Valencia (Spain)
2013- Residence & Grant ECT Solleric. Casal Solleric Foundation. (Spain)
2013- Grant ”Arts Council of Finland”. (Finland)
2013- Grant “Raumars Artists in Residence Programme”. ResArtis. Rauma (Finland)
2013- Grant “Pépiniéres Européennes jeunes artistes” (Europe)
2012- First Prize “XXVI Premio de arte Santa Isabel de Aragón, Reina de Portugal” Young artist under 30 “Joaquina Zamora”. DPZ (Spain)
2011- First Prize “Muestra de Arte Joven”. Gobierno de Aragón (Spain)
2011- First Prize Sculpture “Creación Joven”. Ayuntamiento de Zaragoza (Spain)
2011- Selection and prize “Festival Internacional Incubarte 2011” Valencia (Spain)
2011- Selection “Concurso Nacional revista de arte 967” (Spain)
2010- Selection «Premio Nacional Injuve de Artes Visuales» (Spain)
2010- Honorific Mention “Muestra de Arte Joven”. Gobierno de Aragón (Spain)
2010- First Prize Sculpture “Premio Intdecor” Fundación ARAID (Spain)
2009- Grant “Open Art, Talleres Internacionales de Arte Contemporáneo” Zaragoza (Spain)
2009- First Prize Sculpture “Creación Joven”. Ayuntamiento de Zaragoza. (Spain)
2009 / 2008- Grant “Ayuda Jóvenes Creadores”. Gobierno de Aragón (Spain)
TALKS & WORKSHOPS
TALKS & WORKSHOPS
2024- «Millennials, Arte y Tecnología en la generación Millennial» LABoral Centro de Arte y Creación Industrial. Gijón (Spain)
2023- «Bubble, speculative criticism» MEET Digital Culture Center. Milan (Italy)
2023- «In Search of Autonomous Voices» Trash Table WROART Wroclaw (Poland)
2022- «Aproximaciones al Arte V, Bioarte y Vida Artificial» (talk participation) Guggenheim Museum Bilbao (Spain)
2022- «EMAP (European Media Art Platform) Networking Conference» Technical Museum Nikola Tesla Zagreb (Croatia)
2022- «The Pure Voice. Nowka Sztuka Speaks Conference» Cracow University (Poland)
2018- «Tropo» Telefonica Foundation. Madrid (Spain)
2018- «Give my creation… Life!» Technarte. Bilbao (Spain) / Los Angeles, California (EEUU)
2018- «EMO-Draw the sound» Wurth Museum. La Rioja (Spain)
2017- «Energy Utopia- Organic Reality» NTMOFA Taiwan National Museum of Fine Arts. Taichung (Taiwan)
2017- «Give my creation… Life!» Etopia, Center for Art and Technology. Zaragoza (Spain)
2016- Seminario de Arte y Robótica. Etopía, Zaragoza (Spain)
2015- «Technology as a transmitter mean» Los Angeles, California (EEUU)
2015- «La tecnología como medio transmisor» Technarte. Bilbao (Spain)
2015- «La tecnología aplicada al arte» NautilusLab. Santander Creativa (Spain)
2014- «Encuentros» BilbaoArte Foundation. Bilbao (Spain)
2013- Dogmatic Lullaby talk, Eurajoki Cultural office, (Finland)
2013- Emo, Electronic & Robotic workshop Rauman Lyseon Peruskoulu, Rauma (Finland)
COLLECTIONS & ARCHIVES
COLLECTIONS & ARCHIVES
COLLECTIONS
Würth Collection
DKV Foundation
BilbaoArte Foundation
INJUVE Collection
Diputación General de Aragon Collection
Diputación Provincial Zaragoza Collection
Joaquina Zamora Foundation
Private collections
ARCHIVE
HAMACA – Museo Reina Sofía MNCARS, Madrid (Spain)
