When did you first consider taking up this craft?
I practised for a year as a self-taught artisan, and then I felt the need to meet a master, so I studied with Enzo Tinarelli, a master of the school in Ravenna, Italy. The course lasted a week, it was quite intensive, and it was this immersion that really made me want to do this job.
How would you define your work?
It combines craftsmanship and artistic creativity. I stand out through my innovative practice of upcycling by repurposing discarded materials. My work, which is the result of centuries of know-how, is therefore in line with sustainable development and the circular economy.
© Alain Le Coz
What are your main sources of inspiration?
I would say that nature gives me almost all the inspiration I need; it is my starting point. There is no real philosophical conception in my work. It is the sensations that guide me, the search for aesthetics, harmony of shapes, materials, colours, textures…
How do you mix tradition and innovation in your work?
The tools are traditional, the technique and the materials are also mostly traditional, but the approach is resolutely contemporary. I like diversity, that is probably what pushed me towards this art, I need to bring in new materials and new techniques.