When did you first think about becoming a stonemason?
I went to see the HQ of the Compagnons du Devoir in Paris where the work of each companion is displayed. That is how I came to choose my craft. The first stroke of the chisel on stone was a revelation for me.
In what way is your craft linked to the territory?
The French region of Occitanie has beautiful marble quarries and is the leading region for natural stone production in France. At Erriape, our preferred marble is the Grand Antique d'Aubert, from the nearby Ariège region. I favour locally-sourced raw materials.
©Guillaume Rivière Atelier ERRIAPE David Léger
How are tradition and innovation expressed in your work?
In my work, you can feel the weight of my knowledge in the field of marble, which is linked to traditions and to the teaching I received to achieve what I do now. The innovation part is the one that drives us forwards every day.
Could your profession be considered in danger?
Of course it is in danger. Marble has every possible disadvantage working against it: weight (1 cubic metre of marble weighs 2.7 tonnes), noise, dust you breathe in, transport, a raw material which is a luxury product, working outdoors, and expensive tools.