Galerija Prečna

Wood carries light in more ways than one. It holds the shifting light of the forest canopy under which it grew, the quiet glow of the sun at dawn and dusk, and the warm light of the homes and hands it has touched. Each piece breathes the stories of its time in nature and its coexistence with people – seasons endured, marks of use, and the silent witness of everyday life.

In the hands of artist Rafael Košec Tekavc, these fragments of once-forgotten wood are given a new light – a renewed identity shaped by form, texture, and imagination. Never taken from living trees, his materials come from those that have already lived among people, carrying their own story. He listens to the grain, the knots, the colour, allowing each to guide its own transformation. The result is not simply an object, but a continuation of a story: vessels, spoons, bowls, and sculptural forms that bridge function and art.

Light here is both physical and symbolic. It filters through perforated surfaces, casting lace-like shadows; it gleams on smooth, polished curves; it reveals contrasts between heartwood and sapwood. At the same time, it is the light of renewal – the artist’s act of reviving what was discarded or forgotten, of placing old wood into new contexts, and of opening space for new stories to be told.

Rafael's work is deeply rooted in his lifelong relationship with nature. Growing up among the forests and meadows of Kozjansko, he learned to see trees not only as part of the landscape, but as friends and moral supporters. His art practice blends craftsmanship and sculptural intuition, informed by years of restoration work and an eye trained in the disciplines of drawing, calligraphy, and design. His sculptural sensibility reflects the influence of Michelangelo’s deep understanding of form emerging from raw material, Henry Moore’s organic shapes, Rebecca Horn’s poetic engagement with space and movement, Anish Kapoor’s play with voids and light, Constantin Brancusi’s pursuit of essential form, and Auguste Rodin’s tactile expressiveness. These inspirations surface in the balance between solidity and openness, intimacy and monumentality, stillness and transformation in his work.

In The Light of Wood, every curve and opening invites reflection on the resilience of natural materials – and on our own responsibility towards them. The works do not imitate nature, but speak in its voice, reminding us that light, like life, can be carried forward, reimagined, and shared.

I was born in Kozjansko. I spent my childhood on a hillside with a beautiful view of the Savinja Alps and Rifnik on one side and Boč on the other. Nature provided me with an abundance of wonders and awakened my sense of beauty at an early age. To broaden my childhood horizons even further, I climbed trees. Trees, along with animals, became my greatest allies and friends. Soon, my family gave me the nickname VRABČI (“Little Sparrow”), which I now use as a logo on my products.

My artistic expression comes to life most naturally in wooden products, which, in addition to their aesthetic value, also serve a practical purpose. My experience as a restorer has given me a thorough knowledge of different types of wood. I use my sculptural and graphic skills to feel the shape of the wood and the products being created, their three-dimensionality, light components, and contrasts. As a calligrapher, I also bring order and discipline to my work.

I use different types of wood in my work: walnut, cherry, apple, plum... Most of it comes from trees that lived among people, so each tree has its own story, which lives on in my products. When I pick up a piece of wood, sometimes I don't know what will become of it: I listen to the annual rings, the knots, the language of the color... I let them delight me with a spoon, a bowl, a coaster. I also choose the tools I use in my work based on my current inspiration: sometimes it is a simple knife, other times an axe, a chisel, or modern power tools. With hand tools, time stands still, while with electric tools, it races by, which is also reflected in the product. To protect the wood, I use various natural oils and beeswax, which is how I developed my own product: “Natural wood protection based on beeswax and resin from Pohorje trees.” This makes all my products suitable for use in the hospitality and culinary industries, as well as for direct contact with the skin, for example, as children's toys.

My love of art is also reflected in my painting, calligraphy, graphic art, and sculpture. Above all, however, my heart belongs to teaching – passing on my knowledge and experience to young people and other lovers of art and tradition.