Biography

1. Exhibitions
2. Public Art
3. Academic
4. Conferences - Workshops
5. Awards

Home / Jorge Orta

JORGE ORTA b. ARGENTINA (1953)

Jorge studied simultaneously at the faculty of fine arts (1972–79) and the faculty of architecture (1973–80) of the Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Practicing as an artist during the Argentine dictatorship his research focused on alternative modes of expression and representation resulting from the extreme social and political context. Jorge became convinced of the social role of art during this period of social injustice and revolutionary violence, exploring the periphery in terms of expression and audience. Jorge was a pioneer of video art, mail art, and large-scale public performances in his hometown of Rosario, representing Argentina with Crónica Gráfica at the Biennale de Paris in 1982. Interested in interdisciplinary and collective art practices, he founded the research groups Huapi and Ceac to create a bridge between contemporary art and mass audiences, creating public works including Transcurso Vital (1978), Testigos Blancos (1982), Madera y Trapo (1983), Arte Portable (1983), and Fusion de Sangre Latinoamericana (1984). He has published several Manifestos, including: Arte Constructor, Arte Catalizador, and Utopias Fundadoras.

Jorge was a lecturer in the faculty of fine arts of the Universidad Nacional de Rosario and a member of CONICET, the Argentinean national council for scientific research. In 1984 he moved to Paris receiving a scholarship from the Ministry of Foreign and European affairs to pursue a D.E.A. (Diplôme d'études approfondies) at the Sorbonne in Paris.

Parallel to his studio-based practice, Jorge invented the first ceramic glass plates for the PAE 2500 (Projector Art Effect) in 1983, this would allow him to later pursue the large-scale image projections. In 1991 a fire tragically destroyed his studio, including the entire archive of his Argentine works and performances. Together with Lucy Orta, he went on to create the monumental ephemeral Light Works in mythical sites of architecture of cultural and significance across the world, including the Mount Aso volcano, Japan; Cappadocia, Turkey; the Zocòlo, Mexico City; the Gorges du Verdon; and the Venetian palaces along the Grand Canal, representing Argentina for the Venice Biennale in 1995. The most exceptional of these Light Works took place in 1992, on a five-week expedition along the Andes mountain range that culminated at the Inca vestiges of Machu Picchu and Sacsayhuamán, to partake in the festival of the Inti Raymi in front of two hundred thousand Peruvian Indians.

Exhibitions

1. • 2010
   • Light Works- Brasilia en Luz 
   • venue: The National Museum, The Brazilian Parliament and the Cathedral by Oscar Niemeyer, Brasilia, Brazil
   • type: Simultaneous image projections to celebrate The Year of France in Brazil, curator: Cultures France
2. • 2006
   • Light Works - Lights on Tampa 
   • venue: Tampa Bay Hotel, Florida, USA
   • type: Ephemeral projections on the University of Tampa
   • site: http://www.lightsontampa.org/
3. • Light Works - Open House / Casa Abierta 
   • venue: Casa Argentina, London, UK
   • type: Ephemeral projections on the Argentine Ambassador's residence, curator: Gabriela Salgado
4. • 2004
   • Light Works - Lille European Cultural Capital 2004 
   • venue: Opera House, Lille, France
   • type: Ephemeral projections and collaboration with composer Pierre Henry, curator: Didier Fussiler
5. • 2003
   • Light Works - OPÉRA.tion Life Nexus act IX 
   • venue: 14th World Transplant Games, Place Stanislas Nancy, France
   • type: Ephemeral projections and collaboration with composer Pierre Henry
6. • 2002
   • Light Works - OPÉRA.tion Life Nexus act VIII 
   • venue: Saint Eustache Les Halles, Paris, France
   • type: Ephemeral projections and collaboration with composer Simon Stockhausen
7. • The Gift - Life Nexus 
   • venue: Two Ten Gallery, The Wellcome Trust, London, UK
   • type: Solo exhibition, curator: Denna Jones
8. • 2001
   • Light Works - OPÉRA.tion Life Nexus act VI - Battement des Grands Jours 
   • venue: Palais de Tau / Reims Cathedral, Reims, France
   • type: Ephemeral projections and collaboration with composer Llorenç Barber
9. • Light Works - OPÉRA.tion Nexo Corazòn act V 
   • venue: Festival del Centro Histórico, Zocalo Mexico City, Mexico
   • type: Ephemeral projections and collaboration with composer Pierre Henry
10. • Question de Cœur 
    • venue: Firstsite Art Gallery, Colchester, UK
    • type: Solo exhibition, curator: Gabriella Salgado
11. • OPERA.tion Life Nexus, act VII 
    • venue: Museum für Angewandte Kunst Köln, Cologne, Germany
    • type: Performance
12. • 2000
    • Light Works - OPÉRA.tion Life Nexus act IV Millennium 
    • venue: LU Lieu Unique, Nantes, France
    • type: Ephemeral projections and concert to launch Le Grenier du Siècle
13. • OPERA.tion Life Nexus act III 
    • venue: Chapiteau Larueforaine, Paris, France
    • type: Performance with C.O. Caspar, Kasper Toeplitz, Marina Rosenfeld, choreography by Paco Dècina & Compagnie François Chat
14. • Jorge Orta recent works 
    • venue: Galeria El Museo, Bogota, Colombia
    • type: Solo exhibition
15. • The Gift - Life Nexus 
    • venue: Cité des Sciences et de lIndustrie de la Villette, Paris, France
    • type: Solo exhibition
16. • Light Works - OPÉRA.tion Life Nexus act I 
    • venue: Festival Internacional de Arte, Medellin, Colombia
17. • Light Works - OPERA.tion Life Nexus act II 
    • venue: Hôpital Robert Giffard, Québec, Canada
    • type: Collaboration with choreographer Lydia Wegarer
18. • The Gift - Life Nexus 
    • venue: Athens Sculpture Biennale, Athens, Greece
    • type: Installation
19. • The Gift - Life Nexus 
    • venue: Mediterenean sea bed, France
    • type: Underwater intervention
20. • 1999
    • The Gift - Question de Coeur 
    • venue: Firstsite Art Gallery, Colchester, UK
    • type: Solo exhibition, curator: Gabriela Salgado
21. • 1997
    • Questions from the heart 0023 
    • venue: Espace dart Yvonamor Palix, Paris, France
    • type: Solo exhibition and launch of OPERA.tion Life Nexus
22. • 1996
    • Light Works - Cardinal Cross 
    • venue: Evry Cathedral, Evry, France
    • type: Ephemeral projections to inaugurate the cathedral designed by Mario Botta
23. • Light Works - Via Crucis 
    • venue: Printemps de Septembre, Cahors, France
    • type: Group exhibition
24. • Light Works - Light Messenger 
    • venue: Dourven Gallery, Brittany, France
    • type: Ephemeral projections along the coast of Brittany
25. • Light Works - Heart of the Moon 
    • venue: Casseaux Kiln, Limoges, France
    • type: Ephemeral projections
26. • 1995
    • Light Works - Light Messenger 
    • venue: XLVI Biennale Biennale di Venezia, Venice, Italy
    • type: 3 nights of ephemeral projections along the Canal Grande, curator: Selection for Argentina, Jorge Glusberg
27. • Light Works - Paths of Light 
    • venue: Gorges du Verdon, Verdon, France
    • type: Ephemeral projections
28. • Light Works - Woven Light 
    • venue: Troglodyte villages, Cappadocia, Turkey
    • type: Ephemeral projections
29. • 1994
    • Light Works - Plea from the Earth 
    • venue: Mount Aso Volcano, Kyushu, Japan
    • type: Ephemeral projections and concert inside the volcano crater
30. • Light Works - Sacred Light 
    • venue: Chartres Cathedral, Chartres, France
    • type: Ephemeral projections to celebrate the 800th anniversary of the cathedral
31. • 1993
    • Light Works - Light of Stone 
    • venue: Castille La Manche, Cuenca, Spain
    • type: Ephemeral projections
32. • Light Works - Fire Signs 
    • venue: Vesuvius, Naples, Italy
    • type: Project for the Institut Français de Naples
33. • Untilted 
    • venue: Recoleta Cultural Centre, Buenos Aires, Argentina
    • type: Solo exhibition
34. • 1992
    • Light Works - Rive des Amériques 
    • venue: Palais de Tokyo, Paris, France
    • type: Light Works to mark the 500th anniversary of the discovery of the Americas
35. • Light Works - Imprints on the Andes 
    • venue: The Andes Mountain Range, Peru
    • type: Light Works to mark the 500th anniversary of the discovery of the Americas
36. • Jorge Orta 
    • venue: CAYC (Centre of Art and Communication), Buenos Aires, Argentina
    • type: Solo exhibition, curator: Jorge Glusberg
37. • Terre 
    • venue: Galerie Procreart, Paris, France
    • type: Solo Exhibition
38. • 1991
    • Light Works - Graphic Light Poem 
    • venue: Georges Pompidou Centre, Paris, France
    • type: Ephemeral projections, curator: Art 3000
39. • Light Works - Lecons Ténèbres 
    • venue: Basilique de Neuvy Saint Sépulchre, Neuvy, France
    • type: Ephemeral projections and concert
40. • Light Works - untitled 
    • venue: Chapelle de la Salpetrière, Paris, France
    • type: Ephemeral projections and concert
41. • Jorge Orta 
    • venue: Galería La Kabla, Madrid, Spain
    • type: Solo exhibition
42. • Poussiere / Dust 
    • venue: Galerie Paris-Bastille, Paris, France
    • type: Solo exhibition
43. • 1990-1984
    • Rito y Sacrificios 
    • venue: Cloitres de Bilettes, Paris, France
    • type: Performance
44. • Jorge Orta 
    • venue: Galería de Arte Krass, Rosario, Argentina
    • type: Solo exhibition
45. • Irracional Alatorio 
    • venue: Bernanos Gallery, Paris, France
    • type: Solo exhibition
46. • Sustancia e immaterialidad de signos 
    • venue: Le Pont Arcole, Paris, France
    • type: Performance
47. • 1989
    • Signes Metasociaux - Jorge Orta 
    • venue: III Havana Biennale, Havana, Cuba
    • type: Biennale
48. • 1985
    • 1st Art-of-Peace Biennale 
    • venue: Biennale des Friedens, Hamburg, Germany
    • type: Biennale, curator: Robert Filliou
49. • 1984
    • Fusion de sangre Latinoamericana 
    • venue: Rosario Cultural Centre, Rosario, Argentina
    • type: Performance
50. • 1983
    • Madera y Trapo 
    • venue: Rosario Cultural Centre, Rosario, Argentina
    • type: Public ephemeral performance
51. • Testigos Blancos 
    • venue: Plaza Santa Cruz, Rosario, Argentina
    • type: Ephemeral video performance
52. • 1982
    • Cronica Grafica 
    • venue: XI Paris Biennale de Paris / Rivadavia Cultural Centre Rosario, France / Argentina
    • type: Biennale
53. • Jorge Orta 
    • venue: Buonarotti Gallery, Rosario, Argentina
    • type: Solo exhibition
54. • 1979
    • Jorge Orta 
    • venue: Galería de Arte Krass, Rosario, Argentina
    • type: Solo exhibition
55. • 1978
    • Transcurso Vital 
    • venue: Plaza Fisherton, Rosario, Argentina
    • type: Public ephemeral performance
56. • 1977
    • Jorge Orta 
    • venue: Galería del Bajo, Rosario, Argentina
    • type: Solo exhibition
57. • 1974
    • Jorge Orta 
    • venue: Galería de Arte Il Duomo, Rosario, Argentina
    • type: Solo exhibition
58. • 1973
    • Jorge Orta 
    • venue: Galería de Arte Raquel Real, Rosario, Argentina
    • type: Solo exhibition

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Public Art

1. • 2003
   • Le Cœur du Grand Nancy 
   • Location: Place de la République Nancy
   • type: public sculpture, bronze and gold leaf

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Academic

1. • 1985-1986
   • La Sorbonne París
   • post: Diplôme d’Etudes Approfondies: DEA Arts Plastiques
2. • 1982-1984
   • CERIDER, CONICET, IRICE
   • post: Membre of the National Council for Scientific and Technical Research Argentina
3. • 1975-1984
   • Universidad Nacional de Rosario
   • post: Professor of the Faculty of Fine Arts
   • site: http://www.unr.edu.ar/
4. • 1973-1980
   • Universidad Nacional de Rosario
   • post: Degree Fine Art, Faculty of Fine Art
   • site: http://www.unr.edu.ar/
5. • Universidad Nacional de Rosario
   • post: Degree in Architecture, Faculty of Architecture
   • site: http://www.unr.edu.ar/

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Conferences - Masterclass Workshops

1. • 2008, 14 Sept.
   • La Sardegna è un' isola
   • type: Public lecture with James Putnam
   • venue: Montessu, Villaperuccio, Sardegna
   • site: www.cherimus.org
2. • 2000/04
   • Life Nexus
   • type: Elaboration of the Universal Declaration Gift of Heart and workshop with the participation of 35 000 students from Meurthe-et-Moselle county high schools
   • venue: Meurthe-et-Moselle county, Nancy, France
3. • Life Nexus
   • type: Workshop with the local earthenware pottery artisans
   • venue: Zipaquirá, Colombia
4. • Life Nexus
   • type: Workshop with the local pottery artisans
   • venue: Tecali & Puebla villages, Mexico
5. • Life Nexus
   • type: Workshop with the 'Barro Negro' artisans and craftsmen
   • venue: Oaxaca, Mexico
6. • Life Nexus
   • type: Workshop with the Sèvres craftsmens
   • venue: Manifacture Royal de Sèvres, Sèvres, France
7. • 1997/99
   • Life Nexus
   • type: Workshop with the local earthenware pottery artisans
   • venue: Ráquira, Colombia
8. • Life Nexus
   • type: Workshop with glassblowers
   • venue: Québec, Canada
9. • 1996/99
   • Life Nexus
   • type: Workshop with the staff and patients at Hôpital Robert Giffard
   • venue: Hôpital Robert Giffard, Québec, Canada
10. • Life Nexus
    • type: Workshop with local artisans working in terracota and recycled aluminium
    • venue: Athens Sculpture Biennale, Athens, Greece
11. • Life Nexus
    • type: Workshop with the Royal Limoges craftsmen and edition of 100 bicuit porcelain hearts
    • venue: Manufacture Royal Limoges, Limoges, France

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Awards

1. • 1984
   • Ministère des affaires étrangères et européenne
   • Scholarship
2. • 1979-1984
   • CONICET, National council for scientific research
   • Research award
3. • 1978
   • IRICE, Institute Rosario de Recherches en Sciences de l’Education
   • Award for artistic excellence
4. • Organisation des Etats Americains, Colombie
   • Award for artistic excellence

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