The confinement changed her plans, Instagram made it known and her wonderful works did the rest. Rafael Garcia (Málaga, 1997) he was always attracted to art but it was not until two years ago that he decided make his passion his profession.
“My universe and my work is an accumulation of experiences and personal experiences. I have painted all my life since I was little, everything that I experience in my day to day life, together with all my artistic learning, has borne fruit in the type of work that I do”, says Rafa.
The end of his university stage coincided with the year in which the pandemic began and Rafa found himself immersed in a kind of limbo where doubts and uncertainty made it very difficult to make any decision. The paint it was the best refuge of him at that time.
The pitcher, one of his star pieces.
One day, he painted a print for a friend, shared it on Instagram, and the doors of limbo opened wide to show him the beginning of a journey that, deep down, he knew he had to undertake.
Today, Rafa Garcia is one of the best-known emerging artists on the national scene: “I move in the field of abstraction. I seek that all my works have a common thread and that they awaken something in whoever contemplates them” he comments.
For Rafael, art is a dialogue with the person who is viewing the work: “When someone buys one of my works, he is taking a little piece of me, of some thought, some experience, some memory or even some bad day. In addition, I would love for them to understand that they are supporting the work of a young artist”, explains the painter, whose main objective is “May the work transmit to you the peace that we all seek when we get home.”
'On love and nerves' and 'On fear and happiness' (Rafa García).
The artist from Malaga claims to feel inspired by everything that surrounds him: “From morning coffee to a conversation with a friend. I am all day receiving information that I keep in my head and then I try to transfer it to the canvas”.
“Also, I try to surround myself with people who inspire me and I learn a lot from them: the oil paintings of Alejandra Marroquin, the strokes of Alicia Gimeno, the projects of Chris and Martha from Mirror and Goyanes or conversations about art with Bea Bonilla from bacbac ”, He finishes.
When we ask if he has a favorite piece of his, Rafa replies that it is complicated: “I always have a very strange feeling when I sell a work, on the one hand it is fine because it has been sold, but on the other hand you don't want to stop seeing her in the studio" . One of his most recent works is called Offshore Y "Possibly one of my favorites at the moment."
'Bosco's paradise' and 'Bosco's hell' (Rafa García).
In addition to the canvases and plates of it, the pitchers are very special to him, since they are made in the Toledo town of Archbishop's Bridge, famous for its pottery: "Makes Manolo, a man who has spent his whole life dedicating himself to the trade”. We can't think of a better artistic contrast.
Rafa has his studio in his own house in Madrid, where he accepts visits by appointment. In addition, you can consult his entire catalog at your website.
Soul of a pitcher.
This report was published in the number 151 of the Condé Nast Traveler Magazine Spain. Subscribe to the printed edition (€18.00, annual subscription, by calling 902 53 55 57 or from our website). The April issue of Condé Nast Traveler is available in its digital version to enjoy on your preferred device
The artist with some of his pitchers.