Perfect Welding Blog
Jordi Díez bought his first welding machine at the age of 18—originally to repair the wires of a broken clay model. What began as a mishap developed into an avid interest in steel, one that has seen him become an internationally renowned welding artist.
What do Paris, Barcelona, Malta, and Amsterdam have in common? Not only are they major European cities, but they are also places where you will find Díez’s artwork on display. The Spanish-born artist’s work centers on exploring the intersection between human strength and steel. “I like to think that I don’t depict a person’s skin, but the inner fire that animates them, their soul,” the welding artist explains.
Welding opens up new possibilities
Jordi Díez lives in Centelles, a rural area near Barcelona. A short visit to his studio is all it takes to get a feel for his characteristic style. Using very little material, he welds hollow structures that enclose the surrounding air. Why? “Art that shows off is art that dies. Maybe that was the origin of my need not to express everything. You have to know what you’re ignoring,” says Díez, explaining what emboldened him to embrace these empty spaces.
To do this, he deliberately works with the voids inside his sculptures. This not only makes his works more sustainable, as fewer raw materials are used, but also allows him to capture the air and space within the forms—without sacrificing detail.
The technique itself is hugely challenging: “I started concentrating more on the inside of my work, and that became more and more of a focus for me. This made my pieces more delicate, and they appear almost unreal.”
TIG: Díez’s welding process of choice
Díez’s love of metal is the result of a process of elimination. At first, he was not immediately attracted to this material. It was only when he began to understand its expressive potential that his passion was awakened. As a classically trained sculptor, he has worked with a variety of materials including stone, wood, clay, bronze, and plastic.
At the age of 18, he had a mishap. A clay figure fell to the floor and the wires inside broke. So he wasted no time in buying his first welding machine. This was a turning point in his artistic career, as he felt the need to step out of his comfort zone. “There was something fascinating about metal, everything was new, it was all waiting to be discovered,” he continues.
For decades, Díez worked with electrodes on monuments such as the Abate Marchena de Utrera in Seville. That was until he discovered the MIG/MAG process, a technique he describes as more efficient. But what’s his favorite way to weld? For Díez, TIG welding is the process that’s most complex and delivers the best results—and is also the most fun to use in the creative process.
Partnership with Fronius Spain
Fronius supports Díez in pursuing his artistic vision. He had always been enthusiastic about the products and suggested a partnership with Fronius. Not long after, he spoke to David Torres, regional sales manager at Fronius Spain, who visited him in his workshop and immediately fell in love with his art. “Having my art supported in this way was one of the highlights of my career,” the Spaniard says proudly.
Welding: a skill with an age-old pedigree
Díez sees welding and art as having one thing in common: inspiration. Even if welding is a matter of technique, it’s also a question of skill. “When guided by an inspired mind, the human hand can create small nuances of movement that are reflected in a drawing or in the precise rotation of a rod,” explains the welding artist.
He firmly believes that craft activities, such as welding, are age-old skills that humans use to transform matter into objects that we need—such as art.
Mirrored surroundings
Díez sees the unique properties of stainless steel as extra special. Its lack of color gives it the ability to reflect its surroundings like a mirror. “Steel can be as golden as a sunset or as cold as ice on a winter’s dawn. It is flexible and easy to handle, but has great structural strength and corrosion resistance as long as you respect its laws,” the Spaniard enthuses.
That being said, steel requires a high degree of dexterity. One hallmark of Díez’s attention to detail is that he makes his own tools to avoid contaminating the steel. “You won’t find any iron or carbon steel in my workshop,” Díez pronounces firmly.
From small steel series to towering sculptures
His work centers on the human being, an all-encompassing theme. Through his anatomical studies, Díez achieves a perfect balance between technical precision and emotional expression. Each sculpture reflects not only the human form, but also the intangible essence of life. His biggest inspiration comes from the great masters of classical sculpture such as Praxiteles, Phidias, and, above all, Michelangelo.
“Everything always starts with a drawing. A sketch can determine everything about a complex monumental sculpture,” is how the artist describes his approach. If he is working on a life-size project, Díez would also make a preliminary study in clay or plaster—or perhaps a small-scale study in steel.
“A work is abandoned.”
Large-scale sculptures begin with a basic structure that defines movement and proportions. Díez then uses rods and sheet metal fragments to form elements, which he carefully attaches to the basic structure. For smaller projects, he usually reaches straight for his welding machine.
The welding process always has a special emotional significance for the sculptor. “The moment the first droplet detaches is exciting every time—a rush of momentum and promise—combined with the ever-present fear of failure,” Díez notes, touching on his fears. He views the point when the work is about to be completed as a symbolic act: “A work is not finished, it is abandoned.” For a moment, he pauses to reflect. Then, he moves on to a new project and everything starts all over again.
Want to find out more?
You can find more articles on the art of welding on our blog. Previous blogs included interviews with Cédric Surmin and Andrea Stahl.
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