The Chocolate Sculpture produces pieces that are so beautiful that it puzzles me that someone would actually eat them. “To eat or not to eat, that is the question” jokes Ratzabi. Her unconventional company produces reliefs of Dutch masters in edible chocolate. The reliefs include portraits of Van Gogh, Rembrandt and Girl with a Pearl Earring. Besides being a successful business woman, Ratzabi is an acclaimed artist, whose works are exhibited widely locally and internationally.
The story of her company is one of innovation, creative spirit and great courage. Ratzabi became interested in making art with chocolate because she was fascinated with the potential of chocolate as an art medium. At the same time, she received a commission from a big company for 500 small bronze sculptures. Ratzabi realized that it would be quite expensive to make so many sculptures out of bronze and came up with a fantastic, cost-effective solution – she suggested making the sculptures out of chocolate. “I made the deal for 500 chocolate sculptures before knowing how to make them. But I got started immediately and within weeks I developed the concept of creating sculptures out of chocolate and started the company. Now I make 25 different products!”
Her chocolate sculpture was featured at Madame Tussauds and bought by companies such as Shell and Coco Chanel. Ratzabi is very committed to her work as an artist and as an entrepreneur and she manages to balance it well. Many view art and business as being diametrically opposed, so how does she bridge these two worlds? Ratzabi puts it simply: “There is a mentality in the art world, that what is commercial is not authentic art. I don’t bow down to these kinds of statements; I can be an artist and a business woman. And how do I balance it? I just have to do my best. I think you have to be aware of what you are good at and focus on it. Delegate the rest.”
Ratzabi has partners who help her with the promotion and sales. She is an excellent leader and her business is flourishing. However, art remains the main priority in her life.
Anat Ratzabi, came to the Netherlands from Israel in 1989, at the moment she lives and works in The Hague. Her latest series of self-portraits, sculpted in clay explore the questions of identity. Through her sculptures Ratzabi reflects upon her Yemenite origins. Ratzabi is documenting the way she changed through the influence of different cultures. Ratzabi feels that her life is nomadic in its nature: “I am a guest in life. I accept that everything is temporary; I don’t take things for granted.”
Ratzabi contributes great value to the world with her mesmerizing portraits and installations. To be an artist, for Ratzabi, means that she is completely true to her nature: “I am as close to myself as I can be. When I create I feel alive.”
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