About AFJ

AFJ is a performance method, a body of work, and an ongoing public experiment in identity.

It began in 2018 during a period of personal crisis. Without access to therapy or support, I stopped trying to “figure myself out” internally and asked a different question:

What if I could build the version of myself I needed—and grow into it?

That question became AFJ.

The Beginning (2018–2019)

AFJ started as a survival tool.

I constructed identity through:

  • posture
  • voice
  • movement
  • presence
  • deliberate choice

Instead of searching for who I was, I built someone I could become.

At first, this existed in small, controlled moments—short performances and conversations. But the more I performed the identity, the more real it became.

From Character to Method (2019–2021)

Over time, the process revealed itself.

Patterns emerged:

  • performance created clarity
  • embodiment created belief
  • witnessing gave meaning
  • repetition made it stick

AFJ shifted from a character into a repeatable method, expanding into live work including appearances at open mic nights and fringe festivals.

Public Expansion (2021–Present)

AFJ now exists in real-world environments:

  • live performances
  • one-on-one digital encounters
  • public and civic spaces

It uses the structure of a presidential campaign—not to run for office, but to explore identity, authority, and belief through direct interaction with people.

What AFJ Is Now

AFJ operates as:

A Performance Practice — live and digital work in public and private spaces
A Method — a structured approach to building identity through action
An Ongoing Project — a long-term body of work and campaign

Why It Matters

AFJ is built on a simple idea:

Identity is not something you find. It is something you construct, perform, and reinforce.

About the Creator

AFJ was created by Abel Flores Jr., a performance artist working at the intersection of theater, identity, and public interaction.