Brazilian artist Bruno Noveli (AKA Bruno 9Li) has been capturing imaginations with his striking series of works that touch on optical illusion, myth and the supernatural. Bruno studied illustration at The School of Visual Arts in New York City, later moving to Sao Paulo.

I first developed my signature technique of drawings through… sharing cheap papers and regular pens! This exercise helped me to understand other points of view.

I use the colours red, white and black a lot because... evoke opposites. The colour red, as the most vibrant colour, comes to break this polarity.

Tormenta / 2007

My most recent holiday was to... a secluded island where I could get away from carnival parties but still hear samba through the wind. This way I could think quietly about my next series of drawings called META.

From the series Mysterium Tremendum / 2007

The most important thing my family ever taught me was… faith.  Once a friend told me that our thoughts are as dense as reality (material things).

If I had supernatural powers I would… fall. I once had a dream I was on top of the highest abyss, but instead of being afraid I decided to jump down and see what was going to happen when falling. I felt the wind in my skin during the fall. When I hit the water it was smooth and calm. So I started to dive deep inside the sea - I could figure all my memories in front of my eyes and the deeper the water, the older the memories and past experiences I could feel. I realised this dream was a metaphor for death. I believe we have a divine essence inside ourselves but the veil of routine takes out a huge parcel of our sensitivity.

From the series Desnhos / 2005

I believe that it's important for future generations of artists to… die and be reborn many times during their lives.

When I'm not painting on canvas or my own body I… draw for 10 or 12 hours straight every day to produce works that vibrate as intensely as my imagination. I also direct little films that are quite funny. In the last years I’ve painted murals and I was also invited to draw direct on clothing for a brand called Ellus 2nd Floor here in Brazil – it was for the winter collection 2008, released in the last São Paulo Fashion Week.

If the world was plunged into darkness the one thing I'd shine a torch on would be… another torch! :)

Vogue - Atropelo / 2004

Bruni 9li's new series META will be coming to a gallery near you very soon.