Yolanda Sánchez

ardi-ko

Textile sculptor

©Yolanda Sanchez

Taking a stance for craftsmanship

Yolanda lives in the Basque Country in northern Spain
She embraces new technologies and the challenges they entail
She considers herself an activist and artisan of art

Yolanda Sánchez’s eagerness to explore, innovate and choose unconventional paths marked a turning point towards craft after a 14-year career as artistic heritage restorer, courier and exhibition coordinator. She studied Fine Arts at the University of the Basque Country, specialised in heritage conservation and restoration, and has a master’s degree in Exhibition Design and Installation from Madrid’s Complutense University. As a textile artisan, Yolanda redefined her experience into new creations and a philosophy of social and environmental impact. Yolanda enjoys merging the traditional and contemporary in her silk and wool designs. Activism and defence of the Spanish Basque sheep breeds have transformed her art, turning it into a means to communicate her mission to restore the value of wool in her region through her Ardi-Ko project.

Interview

©Yolanda Sanchez

©Yolanda Sanchez

How did you get started in textile crafts?: I took a leap into craftsmanship in 2004 and launched a business in 2009 to explore silk and natural dyes. As the demand for silk products declined, I focused on researching different types of wool, teaching silk working techniques and serving as a textile project expert. In 2020, I joined Crafting Europe's iAtelier programme to develop new felting techniques and integrate digital technology into 3D wool sculptures.
How does your craft relate to your territory?: My craft values local resources, promoting sustainability and responsible consumption. Working with Basque wool has deepened my connection to the rural region and its people. I source laxta and carranzana sheep wool, as well as merino wool from Castilla, due to its historical significance in Bizkaia’s wool trade from the port of Bilbao.
In what sense do you consider yourself a craft artist?: My work is a hybridisation of techniques and materials that draws inspiration from tradition and restores the value of wool in my region, as a functional and artistic material. Through collaborative efforts with other artisans, designers and entrepreneurs, my work evolves without limit.
Could you describe your role as an artist-activist?: I founded Ardi-Ko to research, source, and process wool, which the European Sandach regulations classify as 'waste', undermining its value as a natural resource. Carranzana and laxta sheep are primarily bred for milk and cheese, but Ardi-Ko raises awareness about the sustainable use of wool and encourages small farming communities to utilise it.

Yolanda Sánchez is a master artisan: she began her career in 2006 and she started teaching in 2009