Josep Safont
Textile sculptor
Barcelona, Spain
Recommended by Escola Massana
A science of thread and form
- Josep creates mixed media works with different textile techniques and materials
- His grandmother’s needlework influenced his artistic path
- He teaches his savoir-faire from his workshop and gives masterclasses
As a biotechnologist specialised in assisted human reproduction, Josep Safont reached a pivotal realisation: his true calling lay not in the science of life, but in the creative impulse behind creation. Following a decisive point after his master’s degree in 2014, he turned toward the arts. This journey led him to Escola Massana in Barcelona, where he graduated in textile arts with an advanced degree in printmaking and screen printing in 2019. The following year, Josep established a workshop dedicated to exploring form through embroidery, felting, tapestry and screen printing. “In creation and action is where I feel most at ease,” Josep reflects, describing the process of transforming abstract ideas into materiality. Josep used to teach at Escuela Massana in Barcelona.
INTERVIEW
At 17, I followed in the footsteps of my parents, who are both nurses, to study biological sciences. However, after completing my master’s degree at the University of Valencia, a period of serious introspection marked conclusion of that journey. While I still valued being of service to others, I realised that I could fulfil that purpose in other ways, by creating with my own hands.
Every project begins with a seed, a concept. I then pair that idea with the material and technique best suited to express it. It is a very organic process, evolving and branching out like a tree. My practice is meticulous and methodical, guided by a sense of order I unconsciously carry over from my former scientific background.
Mixed media grants me the freedom to explore multiple paths. I choose materials for their ability to express a specific concept, rather than being committed to a single medium. The common denominator is the use of thread, whether sewn or embroidered, which functions as a connector and generator of new fabric.
I am inspired by natural processes particularly organic structures, tissues and filaments. I also seek to create space for self-reflection through my work. This is evident in The Onions Are All of Us, where I sewed together onion peels, and Blank Stares, an embroidered piece exploring the absence of connection. Even the image of my own heart inspired Here Is My Heart.
