Luis Enrique Toledo

Born in Santa Clara in Cuba in 1989, Luis' work opens a door to a dreamlike magical world, where he creates a parallel universe, a personal reflection of reality. The characters living there emerge from a personal unconscious state, converging in this esoteric world where they have conflicts, express their different ideas in their own language, have traditions and goals; all based on their individual essence. "Not satisfied by the world we live in, I create a surreal refuge that helps me face everyday life...For me, every piece is a representation of a living memory. I remove organic and physical presences from my world and transfer them into this magical place as a creative recourse".

Luis believes that the influence received during childhood and throughout the years is relevant for one's personal growth. As a child, he saw his father study the great artists from the Renaissance, Mannerism, Baroque among others. At the same time, his imagination expanded seeing his mother giving life to characters from short stories and comic books. As an actress performing in children's theaters, her ability to communicate through puppets and marionettes foster Luis' need to find spaces beyond reality. His grandmother's children's stories also influenced him; in them, we often held the leading roles. The series "A dream within a dream" births these characters by connecting ideas from the artist's imagination with their own thoughts and desires.