We were lucky to catch up with Raphael Bahindwa recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Raphael, thanks for joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I honestly don’t even remember when I started making art, even my mom said that I always drew from a young age. I was that kid who used to draw comic book characters that I used to watch  everyday on TV. 

The passion I had as a kid developed overtime. Coming to America to pursue a BFA in Painting at  SCAD was a game changer for me, that’s when my creativity got something that I call a “super  boost.”

Raphael, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m Raphael Bahindwa, a Fine Artist disciplined in Painting who emanates from the Democratic  Republic of Congo. I received a BFA in Painting from SCAD (Atlanta campus). Throughout my  time at SCAD, I’ve been able to sharpen my skills on the canvas. I have a strong ability in creating  vividly compelling storytelling through painting, which is influenced by my cultural identity in the  Congo as well as by my daily experiences. 

I developed a unique abstract style that involves the usage of arrows, sometimes colors, and other  symbolic Congolese artifacts. I sometimes get a lot of inspiration from Congolese traditional masks,  arrows used by the warriors, and other artifacts emblematic to the Congo. I feel it’s important as an  artist representing the Congo, to express some of the turmoil that happens back home through a  visually captivating medium like painting. 

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The rewarding aspect of being an artist is the ability to freely express myself when I am creating  anything.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

I feel like the best way for people in our society to support Artists, specifically in the painting world,  is for people to build an interest in studying the context behind the work of artists, to therefore inform their art criticism. 

Contact Info:

• Website: https://mazaristudios.com/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/r.b.drawing?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/raphael-bahindwa-7aa3741b8
• Youtube: https://youtu.be/C1cl0qbm8E4

Image Credits
TylerX Jaylon smith