Start
"WELCOME TO THE WEBSITE OF ETSURO SOTOO IN SPAIN"
Mr. Etsuro Sotoo arrived from Japan in 1978 to Europe. He came looking for stone. Initially, he would settle in Germany, but before that he decided to discover Spain, and he did not move from Barcelona.
He is known worldwide for his outstanding work for more than 44 years in Spain, mainly for being the Chief Sculptor of the Sagrada Familia.
He has made some 500 sculptures in the Expiatory Temple, masterpiece of the Catalan genius "Antonio Gaudí"
SACRED FAMILY
The Nativity façade is the only part of the temple directly built by Gaudí, who tragically died before seeing it finished, but Sotoo did it, almost 100 years after his death. The Nativity façade of the Sagrada Familia has been declared a "WORLD HERITAGE SITE" by UNESCO in 2005, next to the crypt where Gaudí's remains rest. The four doors of this façade were built and designed by Etsuro Sotoo, as well as the Musician Angels and the singing children.
More information
FLORENCE DUOMO
Mr. Etsuro Sotoo, is the one who has won the world competition to make the ambo for the Florentine cathedral 700 years after its inception.
This contest has lasted 10 years.
He has been the sculptor chosen to finish the Florence Cathedral, the Duomo.
After 7 centuries, he completed the work begun by some of the greatest Renaissance artists, the ambo, from where the reading of the Bible is proclaimed.
PICAPEDRERO
In the year 1978 Etsuro Sotoo arrived in Barcelona.He had just graduated in Fine Arts, he had barely a year of experience as an art teacher. When he was impressed by the unfinished temple: "It was the most fabulous pile of stones I had ever seen"...He asked for a job as a stonecutter. He wanted to continue the Nativity façade (the only façade that, thanks to his work, would be declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco).He took a test and got the job. Since then, he has completed what Gaudí did not even have time to think about. When he finished with the holes, he began with the architect's notes. When the clues have run out, he has had to make decisions.
He has been working in the Expiatory Temple for more than 44 years. He has received various awards, including: the Lladró Art of Spirit Award (2002), the Cultural Award of the province of Fukuoka (2002) and the Cultural Award of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan (2008) or the Michelangelo Award di Carrara (2012). In September 2012, the Japanese government awarded him a decoration in Tokyo for his role as a promoter of Japanese culture in the world. In 2014, he received the European Cross of Gold from the AEFE and the Gaudí Gresol Award for his brilliant personal and professional career. In 2018 he was named Honorary President of ACLI SPAGNA. The same year he is named an Honorary Member of the Royal Academy of the Balearic Institute of History.
Sotoo not Youtube
Click on the icon, and discover videos of Etsuro Sotoo.
These videos correspond to third-party accounts, and to the own YouTube channel.
Sotoo in Images
Click on the icon, and discover some unpublished images of
Etsuro Sotoo currently working
as well as a few decades ago.
Do you know where he currently works?
ABOUT THE SCULPTOR
The book published in 2016 "SOTOO ETSURO" KOTONOHA, summarizes more than 40 years of his work as a Sculptor. Mainly from his works found in his native Japan, Italy and Spain.
Copyright © 2022 ETSURO SOTOO
All rights reserved