Julian Schwarz

An English sculptor in France

• Julian makes his sculptures by hand using traditional tools
• He often uses locally-sourced green wood
• He won the Prix Liliane Bettencourt pour l'intelligence de la main in 2010

British artisan Julian Schwarz studied at the Slade School of Fine Art, specialising in sculpture. After a number of years working in his studio in London, he chose to move to his wife’s native country, France. Interested in traditional tools and techniques, he makes his sculptures entirely by hand, without machines, “not really to be curious and old fashioned, I just prefer simple, sharp, professional carpentry tools,” he says. Using traditional hand tools certainly takes longer, but he sees that as “a benefit, not a hardship – and it’s interesting”. Another characteristic of his work is that he never uses sandpaper – if you look closely at his work, chisel marks are apparent.

Interview

©Sophie Zénon pour la Fondation Bettencourt Schueller

©Julian Schwarz

How did you come to be a sculptor?

My grandfather was a carpenter. I can hardly remember him, I was hardly ever in his workshop, but a bit of that was always in my life and I’ve always made things with my hands. At art school I started off doing a bit of everything but very quickly I found the sculpture department.

What was the first object you made?

When I was little, about ten, I was allowed to have a very sharp little penknife. I don’t know why but things were different in those days! I could sharpen it like a razor – I still have all the scars on my hand to show for it. I used to carve wooden boats with it.

What inspires the work that you do?

They say that writers read a huge amount, not in order to copy but rather to absorb, digest and have their own approach. It’s the same for me. I’ve always visited museums, not to steal ideas but just to look at it all and absorb it.

Why don’t you use sandpaper?

I quite like the surface without it. Once when I was a student I visited the V&A and there was a big carved Buddha. It was probably painted or covered in plaster originally, but that had come off and all you could see was the work surface underneath, and I remember finding that interesting.

Julian Schwarz is an expert artisan: he began his career in 1972

Works

©Julian Schwarz

©Julian Schwarz

©Julian Schwarz

Where