With her unwavering passion for innovation, Ayesha Mubarak Ali has been at the forefront of developing revolutionary technologies reshaping how we interact with the world.
Ayesha and her team are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, creating immersive experiences that blur the lines between the physical and digital realms. As the co-founder of Metavisionaires, she has shifted the tides in the industry and painted it in her colors.
We caught up with Ayesha and discussed her vision regarding the cutting-edge field of augmented reality and artificial intelligence.
Below are the highlights of the interview:
Can you tell our audience about your earliest memories of creating art and how you discovered your passion?
My earliest memory involves collecting cartoon stickers, copying and enlarging the drawings, and coloring them all day. This passion grew when I got admitted to the Indus Valley School of Arts and Architecture, where I pursued a Fine Arts degree with a New Media Arts major. After that, I became unstoppable, experimenting with technologies and creating various ML forms, emotion mapping, and creative direction projects requiring a cross-disciplinary approach. I started working with 3D printing, metaverse, frontier tech, and space art themes to explore human identity and our collective future.
Who or what inspires your artwork, and how would you describe your art style?
I am inspired by emerging technologies and trends and how they shift our innate understanding of customs, traditions, and cultures. My work explores how we redefine identities through collaboration with machines and reimagine our future with the overwhelming abundance of information and knowledge at our disposal. My art style investigates various new frontiers where the fusion of art and science can create knowledge and further information, allowing for a better understanding of human identity, ideas of visibility, and ideas of shared culture in space.
How has your artistic style evolved, and what influences have shaped your work?
My art has evolved as an extension of my experiences, taking references from multiple sources like sciences, biology, space sciences, space suits, internet filters, costume designing, and custom data fusion of AI/ML or generative content. My work seeks to create an impact, provide a purpose, and provoke thought by responding to complex information through fusion languages and new visual vocabulary.
Can you tell us about a particularly challenging project you worked on and how you overcame any obstacles?
I worked on a metaverse project with Metavisionaries, aiming to create an interdisciplinary space for the fusion of art, science, and technology. Another challenging project was Sentients of Lights with Cosmic Tribe, where I utilized 3D printing to produce large wearable art pieces with sensor and light integrations. Overcoming these challenges required persistence, collaboration, and creative problem-solving.
Have you ever faced challenges or obstacles as a female artist in a male-dominated industry? If so, how have you navigated those situations?
As a female tech artist, I often collaborate with male partners, artists, and engineers, as technology is less popular among female artists. I had to strive for basic credit in my creative direction projects. Today, I am leading international projects in creative direction and art initiatives. However, it is not easy to establish oneself as a female artist in the art and technology industry just because this field isn’t popular with women.
What role do you think art plays in today’s society?
Art holds the same intrinsic purpose as it always has: to inspire, educate, motivate, and create magic. However, today’s abundance of tools and resources has reshaped our understanding of producing and consuming art. Artists have taken on more of a curator role, pushing the limits of art and embracing new possibilities.
How do you balance your work as an artist with your responsibilities as a co-founder of an EdTech company?
Balancing my work as an artist with my responsibilities as a co-founder requires discipline and planning. By sacrificing sleep and rest hours, I can maintain my passion for projects and art initiatives while managing team members and company tasks. I consistently keep both sides of my life progressing and ensure neither is affected.
Please share some advice for aspiring artists struggling to find their voice or break into the industry.
Don’t worry about creating something perfect or seeking an ideal work environment. Artists should be decision-makers, so either seize an opportunity and make the most of it or create your own opportunity by becoming an entrepreneur and working on your projects. Today, reaching out to anyone on the planet is easier than ever, and this can be a powerful tool if used effectively. Your voice has more potential than you realize.
What are your plans for your art career?
I am currently working on various projects related to 3D fashion, phygital designing, and space suit design. I am also developing a new series of artworks and a new media film inspired by frontier technologies and space. Additionally, I am excited about my upcoming book, which will provide insights into the fusion of art, science, technology, and space, inspiring readers to create their next projects. The importance of 3D printing and fusion art lies in their ability to push boundaries, explore new frontiers, and promote interdisciplinary collaboration, enhancing our understanding of the world and our place in it.
