Indian Gods, made in Spain

Raúl Rubio, a sculptor with premier Lladró, Valencia was so fascinated by Indian culture and our Gods that he ended up sculpting porcelain figurines of Indian Gods. While in India, on a promotional tour, he spoke to DNA about the entire experience and his love for Lord Ganesha.

Was it always your dream to become a sculptor?
Yes, I have been dreaming of becoming a sculptor since my childhood. My father was a sculptor and I grew up watching him create these grand sculptures out of wood, clay and porcelain. His creations inspired me to become a sculptor.

So, would it be safe to assume that you  have been trained in this art form since your childhood?
Absolutely yes! As a child I learnt most of the craft by just watching my father work in his studio. After school, it was five years of studying art in college and another three years in Lladró with a scholarship. I’ve spent eight years studying this!

For a Spaniard to make sculptures of Indian gods is quite admirable. What was it that drew your attention to this concept?
Coming from a different culture, I was fascinated by the Indian culture. It got me so interested that I wanted to know more about the country. In Lladró, other sculptors had already created idols of Ganesha; this inspired me to know more about this deity.

What did you do to get the details and other info on different forms of the gods?
We don’t have any temples in Spain so my research work mainly involved reading up on the gods online. Lladró also has an extensive archive where I had access to a whole lot of reference material for sculpting the statues.

Ganesha is one of the main Indian deities. What do you feel about the idea of people probably worshipping a creation of yours?
This is an important observation for me. These idols might not be related to my religion but I have put my soul into creating them. And the thought that people will treat my creations with so much respect, makes me happy!

How long did it take for you to create each porcelain sculpture for the ‘The Spirit of India’ collection?
Explaining the process in details would take hours! But there are five steps involved in making a Lladró sculpture. Apart from sketching the images, and deciding the ornamentation for the idols, I had to have the technical support in place to mould the clay and create the final product. It took me nearly five to six months to create each idol.

If you could, which sculptures from this collection would you want to take home?
I have created Rama & Sita, Radha Krishna and the series of four Ganeshas (with flute, veena, mridangam and dancing). I like them all but, if I were to make a choice, I’ll say I like the Ganesha series. They are very cute and dear to me. In fact, I have gifted one to my parents.

Being a Lladró sculptor for a decade, where do you look to get constantly inspired by ideas? Also what motivates you to get up and go to work everyday?
For me, motivation can come from anywhere — while walking, I may see a small boy playing and that can inspire me to make a sculpture. I create pieces from whatever touches me. Sculpting is my passion and it’s this passion that motivates me to make my work even better, each passing day. The culture at Lladró too encourages you to just go all out to create beautiful things.

This whole experience of giving interviews and interacting with the people in India — are you feeling like a celebrity?
(Smiles) As a sculptor, I generally work in a closed studio. So yes, it’s nice to meet people who appreciate my work. I am enjoying this whole experience.

Is there any sculpture that you wish to make that you want to be remembered?
No, I don’t have anything particular in mind but, I do dream of making a grand sculpture just like my dad once did.