Jisbar’s achievements are a result of his deep passion for art and undying work ethic. The thought of wanting to be an artist for a living planted a seed which continuously motivated Jisbar, starting from small exhibitions in bars and restaurants to eventually having his works shown in galleries around the world. Jisbar mentions with a smirk that his accomplishment is all from subtly influenced by his mother who loves to collect art works by young artists and even invites them over for dinner. Every time he saw said artists he would think: “they’re so cool, I want to be like them!”

Not Just Reproduction! Classic art, Street Art and Desire Rolled into One.

Looking into those impressive and colorful works, it’s hard to believe these are all from an artist who never received a formal art education and never studied art history. For Jisbar, oil painting reproduction is an important self-study process: ”I desire to know how The Birth of Venus by Botticelli was completed.” He pointed to the drafts laid out in his studio, and told us that tools, painting techniques and other details are the goals of his research.

One can tell from his most famous art work ”Tom & Jerry Blue Mona” that Jisbar hasn’t just made a replica of other paintings, but rather he has integrated elements of daily life which might otherwise be ironic. When it comes to the daily-life elements which permeate his work, it could be anything from the lyrics of a song, a press, a text message to even a pair of shoes or a purse. All of his works carry a strong and recognizable pop-street style unique to Jisbar himself.Jisbar reminds us that globalization and societies which are dominated by consumerism seep deeply into our lives. He wants to make a record of the phenomena that people of modern times are faced with such as cultural assimilation, mono-fashion trends and various addictions.

Stepping Out of One’s Comfort Zone: Collaborating with Brands and Setting Trends.

Instead of going with the flow, Jisbar tends towards activism. He prefers to collaborate with commercial brands rather than work alone in the studio. “Collaborating with brands gives me more opportunity to get out of the studio to meet different people, to step out of my comfort zone and also help me stay on the cutting edge of pop trends.” Aside from these reasons, he also appreciates working in different ways as it allows him to stay inspired. He also mentions that thanks to the professionalism of the people he collaborates with, he is able to focus all of his energy on generating new and interesting ideas.

“Actually, I am so lucky to be able to choose who I want to work with,” said Jisbar. In order for both sides to be satisfied with the final products, Jisbar tends to collaborate with celebrities and brands which align with his values. Last year, he was invited to attend the 24 du Mans 100 year anniversary. It made Jisbar, who already had an interest in car racing, thrilled as he now had the opportunity to paint on the surface of the car while 40 million people watched on a live broadcast. Thus, his artwork was energetically displayed during the event.

On the topics of experiencing periods of fruitful creativity as well as imagining future forms of art, Jisbar commented that “if I paint a work of the Mona Lisa wearing a mask right now, it might be meaningless, but if I had done it at the time when the pandemic was raging, the work would be meaningful.” In the past, the main functions that art served were those of decoration and beauty; however contemporary art is primarily concerned with conveying a message. As for the everchanging future, art must act as a record of one’s generation. Jisbar encourages anyone who wants to be an artist to “find their own style.” He emphasizes that engaging in art is like long-distance running – you need to do it step by step. Go out,  interact with others and exchange ideas whilst living out your own philosophy. At the end of the interview, Jisbar revealed that he will be collaborating with a high fashion brand next year. What is the brand? What form will the final product take? Jisbar keeps us in suspense.

la vie October 2023