JC.ESPINEL

Professor Espinel is an artist and experimental and multidisciplinary designer. His principal aim revolves around the fusion of cutting-edge technologies with traditional methods, all centered on the theme of sustainability across diverse domains.

Having completed a Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts, with specializations in Graphic Design and Painting, he commenced his professional journey as a proficient graphic designer. However, driven by a desire for further exploration, he made a consequential decision to return to academia to pursue a Master's in Art, Creation + Research (MAC+i). His Master's Final Project delved into the reinterpretation of classic fairy tales, encompassing various artistic mediums such as printmaking, sculpture, and an acclaimed animated short film titled "Once Upon a Time..." (2008), which garnered international acclaim. During the course of this program, he became captivated by the artistic potential of 3D printing technologies, which served as a catalyst for his decision to embark on a Ph.D. at the same esteemed institution.

Throughout the pursuit of his doctorate, he was granted a prestigious joint research scholarship by the University of California and the Complutense University of Madrid, affording him a year of study at the University of California (UC) of his choosing. He joined the renowned Digital Arts and New Media program at Santa Cruz (UCSC), which offered a compelling focus on the application of digital technologies in the realm of arts, encompassing programming, robotics, and other related fields.

In 2015, he successfully defended his doctoral thesis titled "Digital Processes and Rapid Additive Prototyping Systems Applied to Small Format Sculptural Creation and Reliefs." His research during this period revolved around extensive experimentation with diverse 3D printing technologies, exploring the formal possibilities of techniques such as FDM, SLS, SLA, and various associated materials.

The professor's unwavering passion for innovation and the integration of diverse technologies has been evident throughout his illustrious career. Actively contributing to the field of artistic research, he has undertaken numerous projects that seamlessly blend digital technologies and art. His impressive artistic portfolio spans a wide spectrum of expressions, encompassing artist books created through diverse printmaking techniques, sculptures, interactive installations, video art, and even video games. Notably, the platform game "Back to the Anemone" (2019), available on Google Play, stands as a testament to his dedication to addressing environmental issues, specifically ocean acidification and its impact on marine ecosystems.

In recent years, the professor's research and artistic interests have taken a new direction, focusing on ecology and social justice, which have been visibly manifested in his recent works, exhibitions, and lectures.

During the period from 2019 to 2023, he actively participated in the esteemed Art, Technology, and Social Commitment Research Group. Presently, he holds the position of Director at the Complutense Sustainability, Science, and Art Research Group (SCIART-UCM). Additionally, as a founding member of The Algae Society, an international collective of artists, scientists, and scholars collaborating on works addressing climate change and ocean acidification (www.algaesociety.org), he has contributed to various successful exhibitions, including:

• "The Algae Society: Bioart Design Lab," showcased at the Moxi Museum in Santa Barbara, CA, in July 2019.

• "Drift & Migrate," exhibited at the Faculty of Fine Arts of the UCM in Madrid, Spain, in November 2019.

• "MIKROS: A Hidden World," his most recent exhibition, currently on display at the Planetarium of Madrid since November 2022.