Dreamlike Narratives Arise from Alefes Silva's Fantastic Illustrations

All images courtesy of Alefes Silva, shared with permission Dreamlike Narratives Arise from Alefes Silva’s Fantastic Illustrations Illustration Grace Ebert Share

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“My work arises from the interplay between memory and the present,” says Bogotá-based illustrator Alefes Silva.

Themes of stillness and solitude, growth and death, and love and heartbreak recur in Silva’s drawings, which fuse fantastic plants and animals with human details. In one piece, a nude figure slumps over while trees and small shrubs grow from its back, while another depicts a brilliant, red sapling sprouting from a red-headed woman.

“Each element carries a specific meaning within my work, tied to a moment in memory, part of a dream or desire,” he adds.

Silva balances his practice with editorial commissions from magazines and publishers and personal projects. He’s currently working on four illustrated books, including a gardening diary and explorations of birds and grasshoppers.

The illustrator has pieces on view through November 30 in a group exhibition at Estonian Children’s Literature Centre and later this month as part of MountEchó. Dive into his surreal world on Behance and Instagram.