Artist Interview: Botina

Written By DAB

Botina is a digital artist who creates augmented reality art, 3D animations, and videos, as well as literature and music. His artistic universe is rooted in deep and poetic visions and finds expression in bold and fresh aesthetics.

Botina’s work has been featured in books, music compilations, digital art galleries, fairs, and augmented reality exhibitions in Europe, North America, and South America.

We asked Botina about his art, creative process, and inspirations.

AR Smooth Cubical by Botina

Can you tell us about your background as a digital artist? How did you get started in this field? 

I started out as a graphic designer but I always had a very strong interest in music and literature: these expressions allowed me to create worlds with radically different outputs which manifest in either the senses (music and graphics) or the mind (written word); the possibilities of technology have always fascinated me and the digital art realm is a place where everything I loved and was curious about could come together at last. 3D enables me to design worlds, music allows me to tap into the nature of perception and emotions, and augmented reality lets me place all of this in a real world setting. It felt like a natural calling for me. 

Botina is also featured in 10 Digital Artists: Augmented Reality Art

What inspires your art? Are there any particular themes or subjects that you enjoy exploring through your artwork? 

An idea that I find myself constantly exploring –even without being aware of it- is the idea of freedom: in a future filled with bots and deepfakes, where everything and everyone is programmed to love and hate the same things, choosing to be forever free and forever human is imperative. Poetry, splendor and symbolism inhabit all things: there are no banal subjects, only shallow perceptions. The search of beauty and meaning through technology are my goals and my tools. 

AR Hexahedron by Botina

What is an event which you consider a milestone in your digital art career? 

Having decided to work and put in the effort to be a part of CADAF’s Digital Art Month and Crypto Digital Art Fair, in Paris and on-line, without being a “digital artist” yet, is indeed something that has shaped these last years of my life. When I heard about that open call my intuition pushed me to the end of my world, only to realize that a whole new territory lied ahead, with so many things yet to learn and experience. It was the first time I worked on augmented reality, and it was just so difficult but then so rewarding to manifest what I had in mind that I kept doing it ever since. 

Are there any artists or creative influences that have had a significant impact on your work? How have they shaped your artistic style or approach? 

Conceptually speaking, I like when creative minds are brave enough to challenge and go beyond standard solutions, and this applies for everything: from art to sports, science to war, cinema to architecture. I find Christopher Nolan’s approach to storytelling surprising, Maradona’s sports bravery and talent mesmerizing, Nabokov’s word play fascinating, anime’s intensity powerful, Canova’s refinement and sensibility breathtaking, Bernini’s skill divine, Rilke’s poetry sublime. The approach these artists have towards their craft is one of genuine love, genuine authenticity, genuine freedom, which in the end is what I look forward to. My exploration of the concept of freedom within futuristic aesthetics computers provide looks to be not only visually pleasing but also aims to be profound, philosophical, even mystical sometimes. 

AR Toy by Botina

What upcoming projects can you share with us? 

The fashion world is something that I find very interesting and I’m looking forward to learn and experiment with 3D fashion and augmented reality fashion as well (done a bit of AI fashion experimentation too). There’s music that I haven’t released yet which is also on the to-do list with their corresponding videos. 

What is a fun fact about you? 

Creativity has taken me, I don’t know if inevitably, but for sure surprisingly, to the world of opera. I jumped from being a DJ to rehearse for operatic arias (while being a digital artist at the same time). It’s something I enjoy and I’m grateful for. Life grants us gifts only if we’re willing to receive them. 

Toy Clips 540x960 24Fps HB by Botina

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