Memphis Milano goes digital: Inside Pedro Nekoi’s 3D motion collages

For his 3D collages, Pedro Nekoi pulls visuals from a whole array of eras. Pin-up girls from mid-20th century magazines are seated alongside illustrated mannequins from the 1920s, only then to be paired with bows, bright lights and plastic textures that feel much more aligned with present day aesthetics. This is all to create what Pedro describes as “a dynamic interplay between the old and the modern”.

A major source of inspiration for Pedro is postmodernism, more specifically, the 1980s Memphis Milano movement, and their pioneering work in furniture and interior design. “The group’s experimentation with shapes, textures and patterns continues to influence the artistic process profoundly,” says Pedro. It’s not hard to see the influence of the movement in Pedro’s work, the kaleidoscopic colours, and interlocking, geometric shapes that often provide the frame for his collages.

Though, not only looking back in time, Pedro likes to incorporate visuals from his everyday life into his work. “Walking through the streets of cities, I often uncover hidden gems like unique building shapes, retro signs, whimsical compositions, that most people might overlook,” he says. Taking these bits and bobs and placing them within the offbeat universe of his collages, Pedro aims to contextualise objects that we think we know well, all in the hopes of “blurring the lines between realism and surrealism”.