Coucla Refaat is a woman on a mission. She has been fortunate enough to be able to travel too many faraway places from her home, beloved Egypt, and get amazing experiences, see incredible rituals and meet amazing people along the way taking pictures. Whether commissioned or sponsored, she is able to show artistic material through her professional work at exhibitions & publish books.
She wants the audience to have a connection with her photos, to be inspired, to live what she has experienced travel photographs –to see how people live, and to learn about their beliefs, culture and art – Make a connection & understand the story of every portrait and not just see them as unidentified component of an isolated ethnic or tribal group.
WHAT WOULD MAKE YOUR SOUL SING? WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY?
The outdoors and music that gives you goosebumps.

A CHILDHOOD STORY THAT ANNOUNCED THE CREATIVE PERSON YOU ARE TODAY
Being a synchronized swimmer for 15 years, which makes me dance all through my life.

BEST CONTEXT EVER FOR INSPIRATION WAS
Summiting Mount Kilimanjaro in 2010.
THE PROJECT YOU LOVED MOST
Spending the best time in my life documenting cultures in Asia.


THE PROJECT OTHERS LOVED MOST
Documenting the Nubian culture and Azza Fahmy’s campaign in Aswan.


THE BEST THING ABOUT EGYPTIAN CREATIVITY IS
Definitely its humor!

BEST STATEMENT OF EGYPTIAN HUMOR
Egyptians laugh at many things. The contradictions of daily life provide them with plenty of material.
ADVICE FOR INTERNATIONAL HEADHUNTERS, RELATED TO EGYPTIAN CREATIVES
Get them to submit their ideas and implement them. Get in touch with the creatives and listen to what they have to offer. You will be surprised. Take the risk!



BEST PLACE IN CAIRO
Anywhere by the Nile & the beautiful Downtown Cairo.
BEST PLACE IN EGYPT
I would say there are A LOT of places. We have the best beaches in the world, the best culture, and archaeology. We have Luxor and Aswan, the Red Sea, Marsa Allam, Hurghada, Sharm el Sheikh, the north coast, Siwa, Dakhla oasis.



MOST DISTURBING CLICHÉ ABOUT EGYPT, IN THE MEDIA OUTLETS OF THE WORLD IS
Egyptian women are housewives and most of us wear galabeyas!
EGYPT SHOULD BE KNOWN FOR
Egypt should be known as the best tourism destination.

YOUR VIEWS ON SPIRITUALITY
For me, spirituality is a deep sense of aliveness and interconnectedness.

YOUR VIEWS ON MONEY
Possessions vs experiences.

AN INSPIRATION SOURCE YOU RECOMMEND FOR A YOUNG CREATIVE
Travel! Make your own experiences.


Check out Coucla’s work on couclarefaat.com and @couclarefaat.