Barber “despairs” that there’s a monolithic ideal of beauty today, shaped by celebrities that promote a singular groomed and perfected image. “Makeup dealt with identity rather than a template of perception,” the artist reflects. “Now, it’s been decided for you, and you have to abide by it or don’t bother. There’s a lack of experimentation, a lack of deconstructing things, pulling things apart, creating accidents, making your share of mistakes.”

It’s these imperfections and alternative views of beauty that Barber likes to highlight in his own work. On Instagram, Barber juxtaposes his high fashion makeup looks with everyday objects, from chocolate bars to toilet paper rolls. With these uncanny references, the artist remarks on how makeup can be seedy, moody, or just downright filthy. One choice caption on a post picturing a composite of smudged, kohl-rimmed eyes and a burnt match simply says, “ANGST. This is not anti-beauty, it’s just life.”

Predictions for the future? "It's an interesting moment, the pandemic will create a revolution, enough consumerism, perfection and unreachability, enough obsessive attention to one's own image: in the last decade the boring perfection of social networks has dominated, now I hope the youth subcultures propose a more emotional vision".