Enrico Pastrello, the artist behind 142 Wooden Heart, was recently featured by Craft NSW in Issue 8 of Telopea Magazine.

In the interview, Enrico shares his journey from Italy to Australia, his passion for reclaimed timber, and the inspiration behind his handmade timber sculptures.

In Conversation with Craft NSW

How did your journey as an artist begin?

Enrico:
“Since I can remember, I always enjoyed making things with my hands. Growing up in Italy, I spent a lot of time fishing and exploring nature. Later, after moving to Australia and working as a carpenter, I began seeing beautiful timber being discarded and started repurposing it into sculptural artworks.”

Why do you work with reclaimed timber?

Enrico:
“I love giving discarded timber a second life. Every piece of wood already has movement, texture and character. Rather than forcing it into a shape, I work with the natural form of the timber.”

How do you decide what to carve?

Enrico:
“Sometimes when I see the timber, I already know what I’m going to do with it.”

“Many of my sculptures are inspired by the ocean and Australian marine life. The natural grain and movement of the wood often guide the final design.”

What makes each sculpture unique?

Enrico:
“No two sculptures are ever the same. Every piece is entirely hand carved and shaped individually using reclaimed timber sourced across Australia.”

Handmade in Australia

Each sculpture created by 142 Wooden Heart is handmade in Australia using reclaimed timber and traditional carving techniques. The process involves many hours of carving, sanding and finishing by hand to preserve the natural beauty of the wood.

Today, Enrico’s work includes whales, dolphins, rays, fish and marine life sculptures collected by customers across Australia and internationally.

Read the Original Interview

The full interview originally appeared in Issue 8 of Telopea Magazine by Craft NSW.

Read the original interview