Reus, Catalonia: The first sculpture of Antoni Gaudí destined for his hometown of Reus is in its final stages of preparation before being cast in bronze. Sculptor Joan Serramià has been working on the figure for months, with the intricate process now moving to the foundry.
Serramià is currently at the Ginfer Foundry, meticulously filing the plaster sculpture to ensure precision for the next steps. "At this moment, the basic model is finished, and we are about to start making the silicone moulds for the waxes," Serramià explained. This is the stage before the ancient and complex lost-wax casting technique begins.
The lost-wax method involves a series of transformations from positive to negative. An initial sculpture, the first positive, is used to create a silicone mould, which is a negative. From this mould, a wax copy, a new positive, is produced. This wax copy is then covered with a refractory ceramic mould. When this assembly is fired in a kiln, the wax melts away. "The wax goes from solid to gas without leaving residue. That is its best feature," Serramià detailed. The void left by the wax is precisely where the molten bronze will be poured.
Fragmented Design for Casting
The complexity of the sculpture's form and the casting process required the piece to be divided into nine different sections, according to Serramià. The torso and legs are separate, with the arms and hands being the most fragmented parts due to their detailed nature.
This fragmentation is not only a technical necessity but also a practical one. It allows each part to fit into the foundry's kiln and ensures the wax burns correctly. Once all the parts are cast, they must be reassembled. "The welds must be done, and it's important that everything is put in its place," the sculptor said. This is followed by hours of filing, polishing, and unifying the surface to achieve Serramià's original vision.
Final Details and Pedestal
Before the bronze stage, significant work remains on the wax model. "It must be left impeccable, everything perfect," Serramià stressed. This is where the final texture is defined, which will then be permanently fixed in the metal. The final colour, or patina, of the sculpture is also still to be decided. "The idea will come when it's time," Serramià noted, indicating this choice is part of the creative process until the very end.
The most challenging aspect of the project is the timeline. The Amics de Gaudí de Reus, who commissioned the sculpture, aim to inaugurate the statue around 10 June, marking the centenary of Gaudí's death. Serramià confirmed the margin is tight but achievable. "We are doing well, but we cannot be careless," he admitted. The piece is expected to be finished by the end of May.
The sculpture will stand on a stone pedestal with special symbolic meaning, crafted by stonemason Joan Mateu. Both pieces will be located near the Prioral de Sant Pere. The stone blocks for the pedestal come from the Sagrada Família, directly linking the Reus sculpture to Gaudí's most famous work. Mateu is shaping these rectangular blocks into a more Gaudí-esque form, resembling a cloud and featuring steps for visitors to approach the sculpture for photographs.
