Jose Barbosa
Merida, Mexico-based Jose Francisco Barbosa Castillejos, known to social media as NextLevelJose, is the digital artist redefining virtual fashion and experiences one artistic character at a time. Their work is fierce and fabulous: Y2K styles dominate while AR alter-ego AISHA struts her stuff.
AISHA reimagines Jose’s experiences and has helped them to navigate the disconcerting feelings perpetuated by their gender dysphoria. By distorting themself and infusing the digital proxy with sexy cyborg aesthetics and the overarching idea of cyberfeminism they have created an innovative humanoid prototype. Popping pink, Barbie-esq aesthetics dominate their Instagram feed showing the AR surrogate at the Italian forBitches Mansion, posed with song lyrics, and expressly having a Mental Breakdown. Low-waisted denim, mini-baguettes, and digitally developed designs like a 3D wind dress and Social Purposes earrings are rife throughout their work – this is what cyberfeminism looks like.
Join Coeval in conversation with the cutting-edge artist to discover more about what inspires them, their creative process, and AISHA.
Can you introduce yourself to our readers? Describe who you are and what you do in your own words.
I am an artist who likes to experiment and create reinterpretations of my thoughts. I like to capture something that I want to communicate but that is somehow difficult for me to put into words, so I am too visual and I love details! Since I was little I have loved being in front of a screen, where I can visualize another reality, which haunts me. I love fashion and in everything I do I always try to put a bit of my ego into it. Even if it is unconscious, it is something that I notice too much. I also do Instagram filters! I'm still educating myself and getting familiar with them, but I think augmented reality is DOPE!
Can you tell us a bit about your childhood and how it has influenced your work today?
In my childhood I was always surrounded by the artistic and digital world, since I was little my mother took me to the cultural centre of my town and I learned different techniques to draw and to sculp. I also loved video games and with my twin brother we could spend hours playing. Later on, Pixel Art caught my eye and I started creating it, as well as animating and recreating pixel art versions of music videos.
I think that the Internet in general has allowed me to create my own kind of aesthetic, I have discovered many things within it and it has helped me to open my mind to many things.
Who or what inspires you?
I am very inspired by the feminine power that has always been present in my life, I am inspired by our existence, the power to imagine and create, I am inspired by the future, fear and death. I'm also very inspired by music in general.
Can you tell us a bit about AISHA? How did you come up with her, what do you use to design her, and what is the main message or experiment behind her?
She is an alter ego / Artistic Character who I created for a long time but had no idea how to make it come true. Aisha Aisha aka Aisha the Robot is a humanoid who calls herself a Virtual Diva. She lives on the Internet and moves through different social networks and web pages. She is a model, DJ and music producer.
I think that acceptance and self-love helped me a lot in being able to create Aisha, as well as always being very curious, since most of the things I do I know on my own, I started creating music for Aisha almost at the same time she was created. Her music is a reflection of my life and things that happen to me but a bit fanciful, dramatic, robotic and iconic.
I use multiple tools to be able to create the different versions of her, since over time it has been improving, at this moment it is in Version 5. I started drawing it but I felt that it was not what I wanted. I discovered this software called Daz Studio which is wonderful! It helped me too much to bring Aisha to life.
Aisha for me is a way of being able to manifest my desires for this world and in the same way it helps me deal with my gender dysphoria, I feel that it is a complement in my life, and somehow having created it, I feel that it is something I needed the world and I just made it come true.
Her style is really cool and I can see both Y2K and future fantasy elements. Can you tell me a bit about how you style AISHA?
I always try to give Aisha a robotic, hot and fashionista touch, I feel that it is one of her main characteristics. I think she is iconic if you ask me
Which of your works are you most proud of and why?
Besides Aisha, which is one of my most complete and constantly growing works, it is a video I made for #GrimesArtKit which is a Lyric Video where I visually perform the song ``You will miss me when I'm not around'' by Grimes. I did it in about three weeks and I think it is a very expressive video, I would love for you to see it!
Are there any themes in your work that feel personal to you? What are they?
Yes, I think that most of my personal work has too many themes about things that I have been through and my emotions, although I think I have already repeated it too much, it is true !!! I really feel like every job I've done has a big part of me. Most of my works are audiovisual, I try to create an atmosphere where they connect and you can transport yourself to that moment.
What's next for Jose?
Thanks for asking! I am creating my art brand, its name is Social Purposes and I think it will be very interesting, I am doing everything on my own and I hope that soon everyone can see it <3 I am very excited, it is a project that we have been working on for some years! I'm trying to bring a different concept and by the end of the year everyone will be able to see it! I can't wait!
interview EMILY PHILLIPS
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