Le visage, Circa 2020

Luis Martins dit L7Matrix  

Luis G. Martins L7matrix was only 13 when he first encountered spray paints. This experience opened the door for many upcoming experiments that the artist named L7matrix was about to perform. The 7 in his nickname represents the seventh letter which corresponds to the first letter of his middle name, and M and L are there for his first and last name.

While exploring mixtures for his work, Luis tried many techniques and ultimately created his unique approach using India ink, latex, pastel, and acrylic. On one occasion, Luis said he liked using traditional tools: those like spray, acrylic and sometimes even Coke!

Simplicity of colors and free geometry.

It is not just the technique that L7matrix has experimented with. He also arrived at a unique style through his experimentation - namely, he combines geometric elements and highly stylized color puzzles with a realism achieved by elaborate detail. It is exactly this combination of simplicity of colors and free geometry that arouses certain contradictions and even uncomfortable feelings in viewers.

And that was inevitable, due to the fact that this artist is also inspired by the beauty of life and its grief. Influenced by the disarray of the surrounding environment, he cannot help but generate sophisticated chaos in the masterfully blended rudeness and elegance of his subjects.

"Everything generates chaos, from the mixture of points of view and feelings to the materials and media used."

The winning combination of realism and abstraction, brought together in Luis's work, creates a melting pot of emotions, materials and media for the viewer's eyes to enjoy. L7matrix's artistic skill is filled with all the known human emotions and city clutter, blending roughness and elegance, to convey the concept of empathy for the environment. Luis rarely listens to music while working, instead he likes to blend in with the mood, listening to every sound she creates. He likes to paint in deserted places, so it's no wonder his dream is to work in Chernobyl, the place where the nuclear accident happened in 1986 at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the city of Pripyat, in Ukraine. Another wish of this artist is to paint the entire space rocket.

He entered the art world with all his heart and all his feelings are focused on street art, where he merges graffiti with abstract art and nature. His first love was Rayonism, a style of abstract art that arrived from Russia in 1911. Some of its representatives were Mikhail Larionov and Natalia Gontcharova, known to exemplify the dynamic nature of early 20th century life. Other artistic influences on L7matrix are Modigliani, Van Gogh, Caravaggio, Picasso, John James Audubon and Mark Rothko. He admires their difference and innovation, but above all for their radiant self-confidence and the inner tension that we see in their works.

As well as being a full time artist, L7matrix works independently.