What inspired you to start working with leather?
In 2009, I went to see a leatherworker to discover his workshop. I was instantly enthusiastic about the whole universe: the atelier with the tools and the smell of leather, the traditional know how with a set of techniques to be mastered. I immediately wanted to take up the challenge of being able to master them myself.
How do you engage with innovation in this traditional craft?
Innovation for me lies in the use of traditional techniques that serve a creation that is not traditional: the origami sculpture. I recreate an animal which lacks facets. The creative process is disconnected from leather, as I work with paper and folds. The result raises questions as to the material used.
©Gustave Maurice
What is your main source of inspiration?
I am often asked whether I can do animals other than birds. But the truth is they do not inspire me. I am passionate about waders; they are a mix of elegance and fragility. I would like to spend more time observing them. To see them, you must not be seen, it requires calm and patience, like in my craft.
Is there anything about your work that people are generally unaware of?
People are often impressed by bird sculptures once they know they are made of leather, when in fact the work that goes into making a classic bag is, without exaggeration, ten times more technical and takes years of work.