Artist Spotlight: Luis Ponce’s Perceptual Trap

Perceptual Trap by Luis Ponce

Luis Ponce’s digital work is an exploration and meditation of one’s personal existence in the posthuman age. In Luis’ constructed digital worlds, you are invited to plunge into a psychedelic realm with flashing lights, or see an image reminiscent of Pepe the Frog walking through portals in Block Universe, a tribute piece to his earlier work A Collection of Fragmented Existences #8.

‘Perceptual Trap’ is currently shown as part of the ongoing group exhibition Electric Psychedelia at Vellum LA, curated by Ellie Pritts. Artwork is available for bidding on SuperRare here.

Are the bizarre imaginary worlds you create an expression of your subconscious view of the world?

I don't think that in a subconscious way in the surreal sense, I am driven by everything that can transform our perception of the mundane, a personal existentialist meditation in this posthuman age.

Your work, such as ‘Perceptual Trap’ explores metaphysical themes. Are there favorite books or music that you draw inspiration from?

I always read all kinds of content, I absorb and work with ideas from what I read. Books that come to mind are ‘The Doors of Perception’ by Aldous Huxley, ‘Future Shock’ by Alvin Toffler, ‘Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?’ by Philip K. Dick, ‘The Incal’ a graphic novel by Alejandro Jodorowsky and Moebius, ‘Historia de la eternidad’ by Jorge Luis Borges, ‘Kybalion’ by Three Initiates and William Walker Atkinson, ‘Weapons of Math Destruction’ by Cathy O'Neil, ‘Sparsely Attended Funerals’ by Mark Wilson, Libro Vaquero and tabloid newspapers from Mexico City. 

Most of the time I listen to music without lyrics, Aphex Twin, Frank Bretschneider, Autechre, Ryoji Ikeda, Grischa Lichtenberger and so many more that this list would be endless but pretty much I am into unique sounds that make my brain feel like a rubber band. 

Eyes seem to be a recurring motif in your works. Tell us about this.

I use eyes for many reasons, but one of them is because I am fascinated by how optical illusions can hack human sight, this proves that our brain tends to make suppositions of reality and what we think we see. I also think that sight is one of the most corrupted human senses because it depends on individual conceptual perception.  

Having done murals, do you utilize the same creative approach with your digital art work? Does switching from analog to digital change the themes you explore?

I always used digital tools during my analog creation to speed up processes; the themes that I explore are always in constant movement so either digital or analog, they are tools that have and will always help me explore these themes.

Your Christie’s auction piece ‘Block Universe’ has a very interesting element of moving through portals. Would you say that this is a reflection of your career trajectory? Tell us the story of your journey.

It has been a crazy ride, I moved to Canada from Mexico 2.5 years ago and I was totally clueless and worried about where my artistic career was heading to.

My projects in Mexico were stopped because of COVID and coming to a new country was like floating in a void. 

Fast-forward to the present, I’m being supported by a great community in Web 3.0, and creative freedom is flowing and is no longer something I could only dream about. 

It’s so damn unreal to see my work being auctioned in one of the biggest auction houses next to such talented artists. There hasn’t been a single day in which I don’t wake up with the biggest smile on my face ever since my first drop.

What informs the choice of your color palette?

Before Web 3.0, all my personal work was black and white and the use of color in commissioned work was the clients’ choice, and I dress in black, white, and grey most of the time, so in a subconscious way, my complete use of vibrant colors is the opening of a new window in my creative freedom. 

What idea would you have for a work you’d wish to create if the barrier to technological limitation is removed?

On a personal level, I would like to learn how to code to take my ideas a step further into the realm of technology, but before that, I need to improve my English.

Photographs by @djkero