Tomek Kawiak and Tangier, Through My Eyes

Some artists leave an impression. Others leave something much deeper. They change the way you feel, the way you look at a city, and even the way you understand art itself. For me, Tomek Kawiak was one of those artists.

Since 2011, I had the privilege of being responsible for the management of his artworks. That experience gave me much more than a role or a responsibility. It gave me years of closeness to an exceptional artist and a creative world that inspired me in a very real and lasting way. I was present at all of his exhibitions during that period, and every single one of them left something with me.

What touched me most about Tomek was not only his artistic level or his international journey. It was the fact that he chose Tangier. An artist with such a rich background, shaped by Poland, Paris, and the international art scene, found something here that made him want to stay, create, and live this city from within. That choice means a lot. It says something important about Tangier.

Tangier has always had a magnetic soul, but when an artist like Tomek Kawiak chooses to become part of it, the city gains something precious. It gains presence, depth, and artistic recognition. He did not just come here to pass through. He truly connected with Tangier, and you could feel that in his work.

He had a very special way of seeing the city. He noticed the details that many people overlook. He saw beauty in signs, objects, textures, urban marks, and everyday forms. He could take something ordinary and reveal its poetry. That was one of the things that fascinated me most. Through him, Tangier felt alive in another way. It felt playful, layered, artistic, and full of hidden energy.

One of the works that inspired me the most was Tanger in Pocket.

That piece gave me a feeling I still remember clearly. It made me feel excited, curious, and emotionally connected. There was something powerful in the idea behind it, something intimate and imaginative at the same time. For me, it felt like carrying a piece of Tangier close to the heart. It was one of those artworks that stays with you because it speaks to both the eye and the feeling.

Being present at his exhibitions was always more than attending an event. It was entering a universe. Every exhibition had its own emotion, its own rhythm, its own energy. And each time, I felt that Tomek was giving something meaningful back to Tangier. He was not only showing his art in the city. He was enriching the city through his art.

That is why I believe he gave real value to Tangier.

He brought more than his name and reputation. He brought commitment. He brought inspiration. He brought a way of seeing that helped affirm Tangier as a place of true artistic life. His presence reminded us that this city is not only a source of history or memory, but also a living space for contemporary creation.

For me, those years were deeply important. They inspired me a lot and shaped the way I connect with art today. Being close to Tomek Kawiak’s exhibitions since 2011 was something I will always carry with gratitude. I learned from his vision, from his sensitivity, and from the way he transformed simple things into something unforgettable.

Tomek did not just live in Tangier. He gave something to it.

And for those of us who had the chance to witness that journey closely, his story in Tangier remains a beautiful reminder that when a great artist truly embraces a city, that city shines even more.