‘VIRTUAL SOUL’: THE AESTHETICS OF THE DISEMBODIED BEING A Conceptual and Visual Analysis of an Artificial Influencer

Paola Palomino-Flores; Klaus Berckholtz-Benavides; Carlos Díaz-Hernández

doi:10.62161/revvisual.v18.5976

‘VIRTUAL SOUL’: THE AESTHETICS OF THE DISEMBODIED BEING A Conceptual and Visual Analysis of an Artificial Influencer

Paola Palomino-Flores
, Klaus Berckholtz-Benavides
, Carlos Díaz-Hernández

Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas
Complutense University of Madrid

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

In the post-digital era, categories such as body, identity, and presence undergo a reconfiguration. Focusing on the Instagram profile of Aitana López, an AI-created influencer, this study explores new forms of technologically mediated existence. Three dimensions are examined: existence as visibility, the body as an aesthetic interface without experience, and the image as an ontological presence. The findings reveal a tendency toward hyperreality and the aestheticization of the body, where the artificial takes precedence over the real. The image no longer merely represents; it acts, interacts, and generates value. Accordingly, rethinking the human requires acknowledging its embodied dimension.

Translated title of the contribution	“VIRTUAL SOUL”:LA ESTÉTICA DEL SER SIN CUERPOAnálisis conceptual y visual de una influencer artificial
Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	191-208
Number of pages	18
Journal	VISUAL Review. International Visual Culture Review / Revista Internacional de Cultura
Volume	18
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.62161/revvisual.v18.5976
State	Published - 30 Jan 2026

Keywords

Aesthetics
Artificial Intelligence
Body
Hyperreality
Influencers
Instagram
Social Media

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10.62161/revvisual.v18.5976

Cite this

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title = "{\textquoteleft}VIRTUAL SOUL{\textquoteright}: THE AESTHETICS OF THE DISEMBODIED BEING A Conceptual and Visual Analysis of an Artificial Influencer",

abstract = "In the post-digital era, categories such as body, identity, and presence undergo a reconfiguration. Focusing on the Instagram profile of Aitana L{\'o}pez, an AI-created influencer, this study explores new forms of technologically mediated existence. Three dimensions are examined: existence as visibility, the body as an aesthetic interface without experience, and the image as an ontological presence. The findings reveal a tendency toward hyperreality and the aestheticization of the body, where the artificial takes precedence over the real. The image no longer merely represents; it acts, interacts, and generates value. Accordingly, rethinking the human requires acknowledging its embodied dimension.",

keywords = "Aesthetics, Artificial Intelligence, Body, Hyperreality, Influencers, Instagram, Social Media",

author = "Paola Palomino-Flores and Klaus Berckholtz-Benavides and Carlos D{\'i}az-Hern{\'a}ndez",

year = "2026",

month = jan,

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doi = "10.62161/revvisual.v18.5976",

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volume = "18",

pages = "191--208",

journal = "VISUAL Review. International Visual Culture Review / Revista Internacional de Cultura",

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‘VIRTUAL SOUL’: THE AESTHETICS OF THE DISEMBODIED BEING A Conceptual and Visual Analysis of an Artificial Influencer. / Palomino-Flores, Paola; Berckholtz-Benavides, Klaus; Díaz-Hernández, Carlos.
In: VISUAL Review. International Visual Culture Review / Revista Internacional de Cultura, Vol. 18, No. 1, 30.01.2026, p. 191-208.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

TY - JOUR

T1 - ‘VIRTUAL SOUL’

T2 - THE AESTHETICS OF THE DISEMBODIED BEING A Conceptual and Visual Analysis of an Artificial Influencer

AU - Palomino-Flores, Paola

AU - Berckholtz-Benavides, Klaus

AU - Díaz-Hernández, Carlos

PY - 2026/1/30

Y1 - 2026/1/30

N2 - In the post-digital era, categories such as body, identity, and presence undergo a reconfiguration. Focusing on the Instagram profile of Aitana López, an AI-created influencer, this study explores new forms of technologically mediated existence. Three dimensions are examined: existence as visibility, the body as an aesthetic interface without experience, and the image as an ontological presence. The findings reveal a tendency toward hyperreality and the aestheticization of the body, where the artificial takes precedence over the real. The image no longer merely represents; it acts, interacts, and generates value. Accordingly, rethinking the human requires acknowledging its embodied dimension.

AB - In the post-digital era, categories such as body, identity, and presence undergo a reconfiguration. Focusing on the Instagram profile of Aitana López, an AI-created influencer, this study explores new forms of technologically mediated existence. Three dimensions are examined: existence as visibility, the body as an aesthetic interface without experience, and the image as an ontological presence. The findings reveal a tendency toward hyperreality and the aestheticization of the body, where the artificial takes precedence over the real. The image no longer merely represents; it acts, interacts, and generates value. Accordingly, rethinking the human requires acknowledging its embodied dimension.

KW - Aesthetics

KW - Artificial Intelligence

KW - Body

KW - Hyperreality

KW - Influencers

KW - Instagram

KW - Social Media

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SN - 2695-9631

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JO - VISUAL Review. International Visual Culture Review / Revista Internacional de Cultura

JF - VISUAL Review. International Visual Culture Review / Revista Internacional de Cultura

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‘VIRTUAL SOUL’: THE AESTHETICS OF THE DISEMBODIED BEING A Conceptual and Visual Analysis of an Artificial Influencer

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