Víctor Arce’s hazy, digital artworks are inspired by the nostalgic touch of retro computing

For a single artwork, Víctor Arce likes to make use of several different tools. “Finding comfort in complexity,” he often blends different softwares like Photoshop, Illustrator, Blender, and After Effects as well as experimenting with AI – “using its strange and unpredictable outputs to my advantage”, he says.

From this remixing, Víctor’s work manifests itself in an equally large variety of outputs and styles: colourful graphic scenes influenced by “digital surrealism”, to Blender-made objects and airbrushed spheres, hazy pixelated forms and GIFs inspired by glitch art and the demoscene. All in his bright RGB colour palette, these digital playgrounds aim to be “strange, mysterious, and open-ended, inviting viewers to complete the experience with their own interpretations”. They also embrace the visual languages of digital malfunction and error as a kind of abstract art.

In amongst the abstract and otherworldly though, there is also the familiar — digital icons and symbols we all know: the desktop folder, the image not found pop-up, emojis, cursors and browser windows — all floating around in his magical digital collages, turning 90’s computer relics into something etherial. On the subject of what has influenced his nostalgic, vibrant and glitchy style, Victor says: “Surrealism, Vaporwave, and the nostalgic touch of retro computing deeply inspire me, driving the atmosphere and mood of my pieces.” He goes on to list his wide-ranging inspirations from hackers, graphic artists, and musicians, including: the sunset colour palettes of María Medem, Cynthia Alfonso’s grainy animations and David Rudnick’s graphic design, to name but a few.