Bio
Özcan Ertek (*1989, Istanbul) is a sonic and media artist whose work explores the intersections of sound, sculpture, and motion. His practice focuses on the relationships between technology, the body, and space, often using interactive sound sculptures, kinetic objects, and site-specific installations to investigate how sound can act as a tool for disruption, reflection, and agency.
Trained as a Mechanical Engineer (B.Sc., 2011, Yıldız Technical University), Ertek later pursued Sound Engineering and Sonic Arts (M.A., 2015, Istanbul Technical University - MIAM), where he explored sound as both a structural and expressive medium. After moving to Berlin in 2018, he expanded his research into interactive media, spatial sound, and kinetic installations, integrating engineering, performance, and material experimentation. At the University of the Arts Berlin (UdK), he completed a Diplom in Art and Media with Meisterschüler (2019-2024) and an M.A. in Art in Context (2019-2023).
His interdisciplinary work examines how sound shapes perception, agency, and spatial experience, critically engaging with human-machine interaction, sensory thresholds, and material transformation. By engaging with sounding artifacts and their role in shaping perception and interaction, his work explores how movement, materiality, and sound intersect within site-specific and participatory environments. Through hacking, reconfiguration, sonification, and the design of new sonic artifacts and speculative sound objects, he transforms industrial materials, acoustic structures, and technological systems, expanding their potential beyond their intended functions. Constructing experimental infrastructures, his work proposes alternative modes of listening, interaction, and spatial perception. These interventions create dynamic sonic spaces, where sound acts as an interactive force that redefines sensory and spatial relationships, opening new possibilities for engagement and critical reflection.
Contact
Mail: ozcanerteks@gmail.com
Education
2007 - 2011 | Mechanical Engineering, Bachelor's Degree, Yildiz Technical University
2012 - 2015 | Sound Engineering and Sonic Arts, Master's Degree, MIAM, Istanbul Technical University
2019 - 2022 | Art and Media, Diplom, Universität der Künste Berlin
2019 - 2023 | Art in Context, MA, Universität der Künste Berlin
Awards / Prizes:
2023 | “Art Space Lab: groundless - Interplay” Somos Art Space, 48 Stunden Neukölln, Berlin, Germany
2022 | “Art Space Lab: groundless” 48 Stunden Neukölln, Sub Tei, Berlin, Germany
Projects / Exhibitions:
06.2024 | “Street View,” Kiezkapelle, 48 Stunden Neukölln, Berlin, DE
06.2024 | “Bells and Cannons,” Frei-raum.berlin, Berlin, DE
06.2024 | “Sound of Green,” Salt Beyoğlu, Istanbul, TR
05.2024 | “Echoing Dimensions,” Kunstraum Potsdamer Straße, Berlin, DE
02.2024 | “Sculpted Sonorities,” Errant Sound, Berlin, DE
01.2024 | “More Strange Things,” Silent Green, Berlin, DE
12.2023 | “When If Not Now?,” CTM Prelude Event, Mahalla, Berlin, DE
12.2023 | Groundless, “Dissonance Within,” Zwitschermaschine, Berlin, DE
07.2023 | Rundgang, University of the Arts Berlin, Berlin, DE
06.2023 | “Groundless: Interplay”, 48 Stunden Neukölln, SomoS Art, Berlin, DE
06.2023 | “Mit der Natur II,” Projektraum Oldenburger Straße, Berlin, DE
04.2023 | “Unfolding Traces,” Kunstraum Potsdamer Straße, Berlin, DE
04.2023 | “Akustik Ufuk / Acoustic Horizon” Pera Museum, Istanbul, TR
02.2023 | “Present Im/possibilities” (transmediale Vorspiel), Designtransfer, Berlin, DE
11.2022 | “Groundless: An Endless Pursuit” - Group Exhibition, Sub Tei, Berlin, DE
09.2022 | Group exhibition at Splace am Hauptplatz, campus exhibition, University of Art and Design Linz, Ars Electronica Linz, AT
06.2022 | Rundgang, University of the Arts Berlin, Berlin, DE
04.2022 | “Time to Time,” LAGE EGAL, Berlin, DE
03.2022 | “Echos aus der Pohlstraße,” Sense of City Ausstellung, Zwitschermaschine, Berlin, DE
07.2021 | Rundgang, University of the Arts Berlin, Berlin, DE
08.2020 | “Never Lock a Running Grid” - FutureLab Exhibition, West Bund Dome, Shanghai, China
07.2020 | “Expanding Spaces,” Frontyard C/O Berlin, Berlin, DE
05.2020 | “Das Loop,” Kinetic Sound Installation, Moving Poets Novilla, Berlin, DE
01.2020 | “Strange Things,” Silent Green, Berlin, DE
10.2019 | Split Level - Gruppen Ausstellung, Potsdamer Str. 65, Berlin, DE
Performances
2024 | “Yeşilin Sesi” Performance, Salt Beyoğlu Wintergarden, Istanbul, TR
2024 | “Echoing Dimensions” Audiovisual Performance, Kunstraum Potsdamer Straße, Berlin, DE
2024 | “Bells and Cannons” Performance, Frei-raum.berlin, Berlin, DE
2023 | “Akustik Ufuk” Performance, Pera Museum, Istanbul, TR
2023 | “Echoes of Spree” - Live Sound Intervention, Fishing for the Future, Spreeufer, Berlin
2022 | Live audiovisual performance (as Seretan), Vorspiel CTM x Transmediale, Silent Green, Berlin, DE
2022 | Algorave Performance, Vorspiel CTM x Transmediale, NoVilla, Berlin, DE
2022 | Live Audiovisual Performance, ACUD, Berlin, DE (as Seretan)
2022 | “The Edge of the Alps” Audiovisual Performance, Flachauwinkl, Austria
2021 | “No Win Situation” Audiovisual Performance, Treptower Ateliers, Berlin, DE
2021 | “FutureVoices” by artist collective S4NTP for Radio Lab Kontinuum (Deutschlandfunk Kultur and CTM), CTM Festival, Berlin, DE
2021 | Society for Non-Trivial Pursuit, Audiovisual Performance, State Studio, Berlin, DE (as Seretan)
Discography / Filmography
soundcollage – Moon Junk E.P, 2011
soundcollage – Bedroom Spirit E.P, 2011
Jungleskin – Energy Drains EP, 2011
Seretan – Live In Dreams E.P, 2016
Seretan – Transference E.P, 2017
Seretan – Persona EP, 2018
Seretan - Lost in Time EP, 2019
Das Loop, Installation, 2019
Melting Soundscapes, Installation, 2020
Air Sculptures, Installation, 2020
Acoustic Horizon, Installation, 2021
Acoustic Mirror, Installation, 2021
Glocken und Kanonen, Installation, 2022
Future Visioning, Installation 2022
Baklava, Video Installation/Film, 2022
Sound Design
Autumn In Bayrampasa OST, Autumn In Bayrampasa, 2010
Light Theory, Bomontiada ALT, 2017
Work Experience
10.2023 - Present | Sound Engineer / Event Technician, Gripstheater, Berlin, Germany
09.2021 - Present | Art Mediator / Musician, Stadtteilverein Tiergarten e.V., Jugendpohl 11, Berlin, Germany
07.2021 - 07.2024 | Sound Engineer, Literaturhaus Berlin, Germany
10.2020 - 02.2022 | Tutorship in Mechatronics Workshop, Universität der Künste Berlin, Germany
10.2020 - 02.2022 | Tutorship in Digitale Bildung Class, Universität der Künste Berlin, Germany
11.2018 - 03.2019 | Live Sound Engineer, Arkaoda, Berlin, Germany
02.2016 - 02.2019 | Sound Designer, Storytel, Istanbul, Turkey
05.2018 - 03.2019 | Music Director, Peyote, Istanbul, Turkey
06.2014 - 07.2016 | Live Sound Engineer, Peyote, Istanbul, Turkey
01.2014 - 02.2016 | Recording Engineer, Babajim Istanbul Studios & Mastering, Istanbul, Turkey
06.2012 - 06.2013 | Live Sound Engineer, Arkaoda, Istanbul, Turkey
Link to audio / video performances