Rafael Varo Atalaya

Leatherworker

The supple line between craft and art

Rafael creates panels, paintings and headboards made from leather
He opened his first workshop in 1986
The Córdoba tradition in leatherwork plays a central role in his practice

Painting was Rafael Varo Atalaya's primary passion, and from an early age he developed skills in woodworking and leatherworking alongside this. "The world of painting and the arts felt like a closed circle, difficult to enter regardless of talent," he explains. “I realised it was not my place." In this context, Rafael preferred the freedom of handcrafting in his workshop, away from the pressures of having to prove oneself. He chose leather, insisting it was a purely circumstantial decision. “Every maker seeks a language to express their way of feeling, whether through shapes, colours, words or melodies. It is a means of communication with the viewer who contemplates it,” he says. Today, Rafael blurs the lines within his artistic craft, making it difficult to distinguish where craftsmanship ends and art begins.

Interview

How important is Córdoba to your craft?: The techniques of cordobanes and guadamecíes are inseparably tied to the city, a cultural legacy just as damascening is to Toledo. They have been around since the 9th century and are recognised worldwide as 'Cueros de Córdoba'.
How do you usually work?: I normally work on several pieces at the same time, to avoid becoming overwhelmed and because each piece needs time to rest. As such, it is difficult to say how long it takes to complete a piece.
What is most important in your daily work?: The most important thing when creating a piece is the personal enjoyment I get from the finished work. I work in the pursuit for beauty, for satisfaction of a job well done, and, of course, for recognition.
Is there a particularly meaningful moment in your career?: The work that my team and I carried out on the decoration of the Hotel Mandarin Oriental Ritz in Madrid is a proud moment. We also did important work with the Italian fashion house MaxMara on the Weekend MaxMara Pasticcino bag.

Rafael Varo Atalaya is an expert artisan: he began his career in 1986