Today we’d like to introduce you to Raphael Bahindwa.
Hi Raphael, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
I was born in the DRC (Congo). Now, I’m currently living in Atlanta, GA. I moved to America in May 2014 with the dream of becoming an artist. Back home in the Congo, artists are not as respected as in America, or like anywhere in Europe.
In my opinion, the best way for any artist to always be inspired is to have people’s support. For example, my family members and friends and my art professor in high school Robyn Hayes Wilms. Back home in the Congo, I didn’t have a good support system, except for my family members. I always want to create work that will one day be appreciated by people.
I occasionally give art talks to give my audience context on my work and explain to them the deeper meaning. As an artist, the only way I can tell my story is through my work. Through my work, I get to learn a lot about myself and the people who are viewing my work. My style mostly talks about what I feel in that present time while I paint, and sometimes I try to imagine what my world would look like in the future.
People always ask what my true career choice was as a kid. They always expected me to say something like computer science or law, sometimes business. But I always tell them that painting has always been my choice, and that’s something that will never change.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There is never really a smooth road for an artist in my opinion. The only time an artist feels the smoothest in the practice, it’s when the artist finds consistency in their work. In my opinion, consistency is one of the hardest things to find for an artist.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
In my professional practice, I consider myself a visual artist in figurative painting. The catalog of my work is influenced by both my cultural background and unique sequential abstract style. This blend is encapsulated by my attempt at visually vocalizing and prompting my start to start a conversation.
My work sets its own form of presence when placed among work done by other artists. And from what I’ve gathered from audience observations and artistic criticism is that there’s a fascination for my unique abstract style that involves the usage of arrows, color, and other artifacts that are emblematic of my Congolese culture.
I take a lot of pride in the fact that I have developed a strong ability in creating vividly compelling storytelling through my discipline as a figurative painter. That is influenced by my own unique cultural identity and daily experiences in my personal life.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
One of the most important lessons that I learned along my journey, is to keep consistency in any work, and always treat everybody with respect and kindness.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://mazaristudios.com/paintings
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/r.b.drawing?utm_medium=copy_link
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UC5gsmuTaszTt-rriqk2XkEg
Image Credits
TylerX
