Julián Sañudo

Leatherworker | Barcelona, Spain

Tied to leather

Julián learned the trade from his parents
He works with hand tools
He makes leather mosaics on wood

Julián Sañudo is the second generation of craftsmen in his family. When he was just 12 years old, his mother taught him to emboss Celtic knot designs on the bags she made. He found it challenging, but customers were delighted with his engravings and bought the bags. "At that moment, I saw that there was something magical, something special about this work. Something worth exploring," says Julian. His specialty is engraving with punch dies on vegetable-tanned cowhide leather. On leather surfaces, he expresses his imaginary universe that he transforms into paintings. In addition, he spends 60 percent of his time working on customised projects for different clients.

Interview

©Sue Wetjen

What usually inspires you in your work?: I am a lover of art history, of the great classics of painting, of the references to Greek and Roman culture. I am interested in indigenous cultures originating from different parts of the planet and I also like to know the latest fashion trends.
How would you define success in your work?: I understand the craftsman as a renaissance man who can dedicate himself to his craft, but who has to have notions of other disciplines to be able to succeed in his project. Ultimately, today, success is being able to support yourself financially in your craft.
What do you enjoy most when you work?: Every day in the workshop, in front of the leather, the materials and the tools, I discover something new. And I'm surprised I didn't understand it before. Undoubtedly, what I like most is the ease of seeing and perceiving progress in the craft.
Is there anything that is still a mystery to the general public?: Perhaps the relationship that is established between the artisan and the material. The first humans, more than 10,000 years ago, were already working with animal skins. Over time, I have created a very strong bond with leather and the work in the workshop.

Julián Sañudo is a master artisan: he began his career in 1995 and he started teaching in 2010