Rafael Espitia Interview by Art Tour International 2015.

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Which series will you be exhibiting as of December 5^th in Miami and where will you be?

This time around, I will be participating in my Wynwood gallery, known as Espitia Gallery, with two exhibits from my Crash series. The central theme of this series is the weakness of us humans in perceiving the world according to gene-based predeterminations and also according to the experiences we have lived through, and thus, our actions are based on an unconscious mindset that forces us to “live in the past”. In life, there are two reasonable viewpoints which, upon their encounter, cause for a collision giving rise to a victim, who is a third party. The first exhibit is an example of the fact that our perception of things changes after every glance, which is reflected by my work through The Musicians, which is the product of an optical illusion created from the placement of toys scattered on the floor, which, when arranged in a certain way, lead the unconscious mind to recreate certain musical legends. The second exhibit, Caribbean, reiterates our errors in the way we think about the world. How Come? Something as simple as a pair of eyeglasses, through which we see things, if they are not the right ones for us, could cause us to perceive a reality that does not exist. This is a pretense to play around with the illusion of a nonexistent 3D reality.

What are some words of inspiration you could give to young artists trying to pave their way in this industry?

First of all, I’d like to congratulate everyone who has devoted themselves to this wonderful work and I’d reiterate to them in the arts they’ll find everything they need to be happy and have a life filled with many emotions and joys despite being constantly beset by difficulties. I would tell them that, while one needs to pursue goals and objectives in the short and long term, they should know that the best thing about this work is to enjoy the excitement of the day to-day art, and that, in the end, the road is more enjoyable than the goal per se. I would tell them to work on their art every single day and not be sidetracked by other activities on the pretext that art is unprofitable. They should sell their talent, even if at first it may not be so well paid. Hence, surely someday many will see how wonderful their work is; there will be people prying art pieces from the artists’ hands, because good art seduces and requires being possessed....anything aside from that is just an added perk.

What is inspiration in your own words?

I know that inspiration is not something that comes to us while we are doing something else, it is something that simply fulfills you, excites you and finds you while you are working; from there on, that force will never let you give up on the work you’re creating. You will only get inspired once your mind becomes creative, which is not to be confused with the mere desire to work on art. The creative minds of those who are inspired, unwittingly and by dint of toil and daily work, gets riddled with a flow of numerous and different ideas. Their mind becomes a machine that spawns such wonderful ideas that the only work left to be done is to choose and enjoy.

Give us your website and blogs so that our readers can get to see more of your work.

www.rafaelespitia.com

http://rafaelespitia.blogspot.com

www.espitiagallery.com

https://www.facebook.com/rafael.espitiaperea

Your work is not restricted to paintings, could you talk to us about your other work and 3D sculptures?

All my current work revolves around my Crash universe; I perform such work in a large variety of materials. If we engage in this universe, we will find works ranging from traditional paintings, acrylic on canvas, to sculptures and paintings made from recycled materials, creating optical illusions belonging to a universe where our eyes deceive us, our brain limits us and only see what we want to see. 

I have two studios, one in Miami and the other in my city, Cartagena. In Colombia I do my work, trying to be consistent with the issue of falling prey to modern changes, and engaging in a proper performance for Crash, with 11 recycling boys who help me get materials and also get to help out with my work. I have met wonderful people from whom I have learned a lot. Thanks to them, I have made pieces out of recycled toys, books, CDs and video films, plus a bunch of cassettes and all kinds of items which, due to the fat that they fell "prey" to the collision and were knocked out of circulation, are now used for works of art that makes us see what is nonexistent.

On the subject of 3D, I’m still digging deep into the knowledge of color and their properties for travelling all at the same speed but at a different wavelength which, through lens filters, makes it easier for me to enhance the illusions. This world has opened up many scenarios for me with the admirers of my work, it’s helped them enjoy a trip of overlapping planes through a method that’s very different from the one used in 3D cinema.