How did you come into contact with this craft?
Since I was a child I have had contact with carpentry because my father had a workshop in the back of our house. The machines, the sawdust and the smell of wood. But formally, when I was a teenager, I took a wood carving course at UTU in 2007. That is where I began to explore wood for myself.
How does Montevideo influence your work?
In particular, my work is inspired by what you can see when you walk around Montevideo, the people. Above all I like to dedicate a lot to leisure and free time. I specialise in direct hand carving. All my pieces are unique drawings.
©Martin Varela Umpierrez
What secrets does your profession keep?
I often work from photos, when they are commissioned sculptures to be given as gifts. Then they become personalised pieces, personalised caricatures. I like to make a variety of pieces, otherwise, I get bored.
What should a young artisan in your profession take into account?
I would tell them to have their own personality and language as well as technical skills. He or she should not copy, but invent. Just as we all have a signature and a way of writing, young artisans must develop their individuality.