Moment 09 - 1:30PM

One day, his professor asked him the following question:

"What image or object best represents you, Nico?"

This question, in truth, required multiple answers, depending on the different phases of his life.

The first object that came to mind was a radio his father gave him when he was very young. It was a retro-futuristic 1960s-style radio, transparent, with two glowing tubes inside. It sparked his love for eclectic objects, and every time he turned it on, an incredible ambiance and light show unfolded. He quickly realized: mastering light in a space could create beautiful memories or make them even more magical.

Next, he thought of Daft Punk, a group he adored. Their album Alive 2007, with their iconic robotic helmets and leather suits adorned with glowing seams, completely fascinated him.

In his 20s, his answer would have been Back to the Future II. The movie, its cover art, and the vision of 2015 imagined from 1985—with flying cars, hoverboards, and self-drying jackets—left him in awe.

Another film that resonated deeply with him was Interstellar. Its exploration of paranormal mysteries and time relativity, combined with its strong ideological themes, captivated and transported him, making him dream like a 7-year-old since its release.

If you were to ask him the same question today, he would say the image that best represents him is that of shadows and light, dancing together to create a visual melody—fascinating, calming, and harmonious. He dreams of a world where every facade, every corner, every place his eyes land is bathed in these intricate interplays, day and night.

It had been a year since he first sketched out an idea—a project he had been searching for over a decade, without fully knowing what it was. From the night he conceptualized it, he began experimenting and testing, having a blast while keeping a clear vision of what he wanted to achieve.

That vision was to showcase all the shadows and lights that mesmerized him, to share with others what he saw and felt: that little something from the outside that signals to us.

A few months ago, because nothing happens by chance, he was with his brother and two other incredible people, overflowing with energy and love, when his eyes fell on a small farmhouse. Its white plastered walls were kissed by shadows and light, shaped by the South African sun and wind. That moment gave birth to Moment 09—his moment, his image, his passion.

Shadowzzzlights

(Stellenbosch, South Africa)

Limited to 9 pieces