Miles Buckle reimagines cinema through 90s low-poly gaming
The London-based artist uses the technical limitations of early 3D graphics to explore memory and the surreal.
London-based 3D artist Miles Buckle is gaining traction on TikTok and Instagram by creating "imaginary games" that translate classic cinema into a retro digital aesthetic. By reimagining the works of directors such as David Lynch, Alfred Hitchcock, and Federico Fellini, Buckle bridges the gap between high-art cinema and the nostalgic visual language of early 3D gaming.
Buckle’s work specifically mimics the technical constraints of the mid-1990s, drawing inspiration from PlayStation 1-style graphics and The Sims 2. To achieve this, he employs low-polygon counts, bit-crushed audio, and intentionally stretched face textures. "This is a mid-90s style of low polygon counts, bit-crushed audio and terrifyingly stretched face textures," Buckle told Creative Review, noting that while these visuals were once intended to be realistic, they now evoke a sense of "surreal horror."
The intersection of design and memory
A graduate of Central Saint Martins, where he studied Graphic Communication Design, Buckle’s path into 3D art began in childhood with Blender and Minecraft animations. This lifelong interest culminated in his graduate project, "Nights Bridge," an interactive narrative that explored the relationship between memory and graphical fidelity. To emphasize the contrast between eras, Buckle presented the project on a modified 1990s PC that housed modern internal hardware.
A response to hyper-realism
Buckle views his commitment to lo-fi aesthetics as a deliberate stylistic choice and a reaction to the current state of digital art. In an era dominated by the hyper-realism of AI-generated imagery, which he describes as unintentional, Buckle uses technical limitations to ensure his work feels purposeful. By embracing the "failure" of early technology, he transforms outdated graphical glitches into sophisticated storytelling tools.
The future of digital nostalgia
This approach highlights a growing trend where the limitations of the past are repurposed as fine art. By challenging the industry's relentless drive toward photorealism, Buckle demonstrates how reduced fidelity can actually enhance the emotional resonance or surreal quality of a piece. As he continues to explore these parallel universes, his work serves as a case study in how digital nostalgia can be used to interrogate the nature of memory and the evolution of visual storytelling.