Brazilian artist Bruno 9li has attained a considerable degree of commercial success, attracting collectors across Europe and North America. Although still a young man he commands $10,000 for a single painting, and the value of his work looks set to rise in the years to come. As his answers reveal,  he is an intensely spiritual individual with a deep passion for his craft. He is testament to the fact that you can make money doing something you love, if you have enough skill, dedication and self-belief.

Image courtesy of bruno9li.com

You have a solo show coming up in Sao Paulo, plus a show in London. Are you really busy right now?

I’ve been very busy, visioning, researching and stretching time in my observatory. I just keep it going forward, always aiming to see more.

Do you plan your compositions carefully before you start, or do they develop organically as you create them?

Yes, it comes like our thoughts, organically. But there is a structure before, the foundation of the visual idea, so I make a sketch before starting a drawing or a canvas. People say that my work is chaotic so they maybe think that it’s been done in a chaotic way… but it’s the opposite, I see my creations as balanced systems, I’m always searching for the balance in intense systems.

Many of your pieces are large and highly detailed. How long do you spend on a single canvas?

It can take months… it depends of how complex and [upon] the entropy of each composition, of each quantum entanglement I aim to represent.

Image courtesy of bruno9li.com


Tell me about the materials you like to use. What is the benefit of using acrylic and ink together?

I use ink only if it’s on paper, that’s the beginning, ink on paper. I started to develop lines and compositions using only ink on paper at the beginning. Over time I’ve introduced acrylic paint for the evolution of my scenes.

I interpret the central characters in your paintings as Shaman figures, bridging the gap between man and nature. Is this a fair comment?

My entities are the gap between man and nature, man as manifestation of nature, man-expanding consciousness to the 4th dimension. They are entities, warriors from civilizations that can see what is invisible for our eyes and indecipherable for our minds. In a society where rituals are not so much effective they are a manifestation of the transcendental.

I love the paintings from last year – Na Força, Leão Escuro and A Trindade Renova na Terra. This series has a rainforest backdrop – is the rainforest a source of your creativity?

If you visit Brazil you’ll see that the power of nature here seems to be different from everywhere in the earth. And those who aim vision, those who work for evolution, step to the center of a virgin jungle when they start to create…

Image courtesy of bruno9li.com

For those who don’t know Sao Paulo, please tell us a little about the art scene there. Who are your favourite artists from SP?

Sincerely, those who aim evolution, meta-vision. They are hidden…

Is there one district where the artist community lives / hangs out?

Everywhere, this is a giant city.

Is there a big street art scene in SP?

Art here seems to blow everywhere, including the highest point of a building’s façade. Yes, there is a lot of art on the street here.

Who are the best graffiti artists in SP?

Considering what is really visionary instead of pure graffiti mannerism there are very few good people, in my point of view. I like the hermetic vibe of Pixação, sometimes aggressive, sometimes just visionary and inventive letters.

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LAVA Collective presents: Bruno 9li at The Rag Factory
16 Heneage Street, London, E1 5LJ. Nearest tube: Liverpool Street / Aldgate East.
30th April - 3rd May 2010.  Open daily: 12-7pm. Free entry.
www.lavacollective.com