Ursula Nunez

Woodcarver | Bevaix, Switzerland

Woodcarver and traveller

Ursula's interest in sculpture dates back to her university years
She feels an intimate connection between herself and the pieces of wood she selects for her creations
She creates her pieces using locally-sourced wood

Ursula Núñez studied art in Lima, Peru, the country where she was born. On a trip to Pucallpa, in the Peruvian jungle, she was able to obtain exotic wood pieces with which she made the series of sculptures that awarded her her Bachelor degree in fine arts. During her MA in Art at Carnegie-Mellon, she continued to develop her woodcarving skills. Ursula has lived and worked in many countries: Peru, the US, Thailand, Switzerland and Spain, and in each country she has created works using locally-sourced wood. Ursula has a great interest in eco-sustainable approaches. This led her to using roots and trunks that were going to be destroyed to create her sculptures called Circulos Intemporales 2017-2022. Ursula’s specialty is woodcarving and her sources of inspiration are nature, the female form and the sea.

Interview

©Úrsula & Juan Carlos Núñez

What do you enjoy most about your profession?: The intimate relationship I have with the materials I use. That dialogue allows me to create a work of art that will later fill other people's lives. Transmitting beauty and emotions is what I like.
What secrets does your work hide?: Many people are not aware of the hours of work behind each work. There is the creative part and the practical part of the object. This is more evident when the sculpture is of small format; working on that scale takes more time and you have to be more careful when carving.
What would you say to a young artisan who wants to start doing the same as you?: There is no rule book or instruction manual. Nothing is written, you have to be free to express what you feel. I would add that it is important to respect and value the material and the message.
Could your craft be considered endangered?: No, because there are many people who like to work with wood: artists, craftsmen, people who like to make their own things – either as a career or just a hobby. We all share our love for wood carving. Even more so today with social networks.

Ursula Nunez is a master artisan: she began her career in 1984 and she started teaching in 1990