Interview: Rafa Tom
Luca Curci talks with Rafa Tom during the 16th Edition of VENICE INTERNATIONAL ART FAIR 2022, at Palazzo Bembo.

As a professional fine artist, graduated from the college of fine art, also has another degree in art education, and worked as an art educator and art programs organizer in international schools; she is able to adapt to any art style and work with different materials and mediums, also she’s able to do different styles in my paintings and mix different art schools in a modern way such as contemporary art and modern impressionism. Her inspirations are the Art Masters: Monet, Manet, Renoir, Dégat, Van Gogh, Picasso, Delacroix and Micheal Angelo. Following the art schools of Impressionism, expressionism, Cubism, Kandinsky, Abstract and Classic Art. Mentioning some of her latest awards: Ambassador of Contemporary Art 2021 from Rome Italy, chosen with the best 50 artists in the world in the great encyclopedia for international art 2021/ Italy, Art Olympic Medal 2021/ Rome and la Palma D’Oro 2022/ Monte Carlo. The medium used in her artworks is acrylic on canvas, also oil and mixed medium on canvas, adding texture sometimes with different artworks such as composition and landscapes. She loves landscapes, still lives, and abstract themes. She also loves ballet, music scenes and dance. Spreading positivity, happiness and deep thinking in her artworks is her goal.

Luca Curci – What’s your background? What is the experience that has influenced your work the most?
Rafa Tom – As a Lebanese background, graduated from the college of fine arts Lebanon, also has another degree in art education, worked as an art educator and fine artist in the Gulf region in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, also lived in USA and Canada, where I got another certificate as a professional make up artist. I learned a lot from these experiences as they are all connected which enriched my style and techniques, especially the experience in teaching and art education.

LC – What is art for you?
RT – Art for me is the way to express my feelings and my mood and also the way to paint my ideas and dreams. Art makes me feel free from everything like I am in another world while focusing in my artwork, I can do anything with no boundaries.

LC – How do you feel when you see your work completed?
RT – I always make sure to finish all details with no mistakes and to keep my artwork clean and elegant. I can feel it when my artwork is done and I sign it at the end. When my artwork is done, I feel like it is ready to be displayed and hung and I feel so attached to it like one of my kids.

LC – How is being an artist nowadays?
RT – I feel nowadays to be an artist is so competitive between real artists and digital artists, after seeing everything now on social media and nfts, robot art, computer art… Also a lot of artists are struggling with selling their artworks and a lot of buyers are looking for cheap and printed arts.

LC – What is the most challenging part about creating your artworks?
RT – The most challenging part about creating my artwork is to find the theme, idea and creation, and after that everything comes easily and changes can be easily done while doing the artwork.

LC – Do visitors’ suggestions enrich yourself and your art?
RT – Visitors always enrich me with their compliments and love for my artwork and I am happy to any suggestion if it complies with my style and idea.

LC – Can you explain something about the artworks you have in our exhibition?
RT – The artworks I am displaying in the Venice exhibition are all about the masquerade and the musical instruments with abstract expressionism and creativity using texture, collage, and acrylic paints.

LC – Do you think ITSLIQUID GROUP can represent an opportunity for artists?
RT – I participated a few times with Itsliquid Group in different exhibitions and I was happy with the representation of artists and how they take good care of the artworks, also they choose amazing places and palaces to exhibit our works and they have good connections on social media.

LC – What do you think about the organization of our event?
RT – The organisation is very good and they are doing great events in amazing places for artists and promoting them very well on social media. They are very well-organised and professional.

LC – Did you enjoy cooperating with us? 
RT – I enjoyed so much cooperating with you.