Artist Spotlight: Vaporama 夢想
Tell us about yourself. Where did you grow up and how did you find yourself interested in design? Was there a pivotal moment that you can remember?
I grew up in France in the late 80s, and got interested in design through synthwave music and internet aesthetics. Over time that shifted more toward vaporwave, especially after discovering Andromeda by Telepath. I originally got into 3D because I wanted to participate in the visual world surrounding that scene. It started less as a traditional artistic calling and more as a fascination with atmosphere, nostalgia, and digital spaces.
Why do you believe nostalgia is such a powerful force for so many people? How do you translate that feeling into your art?
I think people see fragments of the past as a form of refuge. Being alone can feel unbearable, but collective memory creates powerful emotional connections between people. The passage of time and the idea of carrying your home within yourself are central themes in my work, so traces of the past naturally appear everywhere throughout it.
What inspires you the most about creating your artwork and what kind of image or idea are you ultimately trying to convey to your audience?
Lately, I’ve been most inspired by the idea of getting lost inside parallel dimensions, places that feel strangely hostile yet deeply familiar at the same time. I’m interested in creating environments that feel emotionally recognizable even when they seem impossible or disconnected from reality.
How do you feel like the cultural and philosophical themes of Vaporwave and retro computing have influenced your artwork?
I’m fascinated by the idea of civilizational peaks, whether that’s ancient civilizations or the cultural imagery of the 1980s. Vaporwave and retro computing both carry this strange feeling of standing inside the ruins of an optimistic future. I think that gives a more stoic and melancholic angle to the liminal spaces I try to depict.
Do you have a work ritual? Take us through the process of creating your art.
I mostly create at night, when time feels suspended, usually while listening to ambient music. I start by doodling and experimenting until an interesting shape or atmosphere appears, and then a concept slowly grows from there. Every animation is approached almost like a miniature experimental film, an active experience that answers as many questions as it creates.
Who are some of your favorite artists, business people, creatives or intellectuals?
The Memphis Group has been a major visual influence on me. There’s something about that design language that instantly makes me happy whenever I look at it. I’m also fascinated by the early founders of Blizzard Entertainment like Mike Morhaime, Allen Adham, and Frank Pearce, along with the broader generation of early game developers from the 80s and 90s. There was something intense and almost obsessive about that era, young people sacrificing comfort, stability, and sometimes even their health to build ambitious projects they completely believed in. That mindset and sense of dedication has always stayed with me.
Musically, with a few exceptions, I mostly enjoy music where vocals and lyrics are absent or pushed into the background. Artists like Vangelis, Tangerine Dream, or even 90s jazz groups like The Rippingtons have had a strong influence on the atmosphere of my work.
What has been the highlight of your artistic career so far?
The most meaningful part has been seeing people genuinely connect emotionally with my work. Having support from a dedicated audience has probably been the biggest highlight so far.
Please tell us something about yourself that we may not know that influences your work.
I grew up surrounded by a lot of brutalist architecture, and I used to dream about those structures. I think that heavily shaped my attraction to massive empty spaces, concrete environments, and emotionally ambiguous places.
What are your plans for the future and direction of your work? How do you see yourself growing as an artist?
One of my biggest goals for the future is pushing the technical side of my work further and creating more immersive, cinematic pieces. Independent digital artists constantly have to adapt to instability online, so part of the challenge has been maintaining continuity while evolving creatively. Long term, I’d love to move toward more film-oriented and large-scale visual work while keeping the atmospheric identity at the center of everything I create.
Do you have any advice for aspiring artists?
Stay consistent, stay curious, and don’t be afraid of long nights. Most meaningful work comes from people who keep creating even when nobody is watching.
Final Thoughts?
We’re all in the poolrooms.
