Between Fragility and Resilience
This sculpture, crafted from dry, seasoned Mesquite (Prosopis) wood, is a tribute to the aesthetic of the renowned international artist Alain Mailland. The work was created through a long and demanding process of meticulous milling and artistic shaping, pushing the boundaries of the material to the very edge of its aesthetic and structural potential. The creative process involved significant technical challenges; the delicate branches, intended to give the sculpture its airy and soaring appearance, were fractured and repaired repeatedly throughout the making. These breaks have become an inseparable part of the sculpture's narrative—a testament to the dialogue between the artist’s intent and the limitations of the dry wood, and the perseverance that brought the work to its final form. The result is a fragile and poignant balance between virtuoso technique and an intimate, ongoing engagement with the unique texture of the Mesquite wood.
שי זנדמן
Shay Zandman is a wood artist whose work stems from a deep affinity and lifelong passion for the material and the creative process. A decade ago, with the birth of his first grandson, a hidden childhood fascination with woodworking was reawakened. What began as crafting toys for his grandchildren evolved over the years into a complex and profound journey of exploration, learning, and mastery of diverse techniques. In his artistic practice, Zandman moves between two complementary poles: Artistic Woodturning and Milling: This facet of his work is based on a live, dynamic, and thrilling dialogue with the material. These pieces are non-figurative and invite personal interpretation. It is a journey that begins with the search for the perfect log and demands endless patience. Zandman often finds himself surrendering to the wood's own will, allowing its natural lines and imperfections to dictate the final outcome and lead him to surprising destinations. In these creations, he occasionally incorporates colored finishing techniques that lend the wood a unique appearance and a novel texture. Mechanical Model Making: On the other hand, he dedicates a significant part of his work to building intricate, highly precise mechanical models of cars and engineering vehicles. Creating these models demands meticulous planning and strict precision The constant dialogue between the artist and the wood—oscillating between the amorphous creative freedom of woodturning and the structured mechanical precision of the models—is the very heart of his practice. It is what transforms every single piece into a journey of rediscovery.
Shay Zandman is a wood artist whose work stems from a deep affinity and lifelong passion for the material and the creative process. A decade ago, with the birth of his first grandson, a hidden childhood fascination with woodworking was reawakened. What began as crafting toys for his grandchildren evolved over the years into a complex and profound journey of exploration, learning, and mastery of diverse techniques. In his artistic practice, Zandman moves between two complementary poles: Artistic Woodturning and Milling: This facet of his work is based on a live, dynamic, and thrilling dialogue with the material. These pieces are non-figurative and invite personal interpretation. It is a journey that begins with the search for the perfect log and demands endless patience. Zandman often finds himself surrendering to the wood's own will, allowing its natural lines and imperfections to dictate the final outcome and lead him to surprising destinations. In these creations, he occasionally incorporates colored finishing techniques that lend the wood a unique appearance and a novel texture. Mechanical Model Making: On the other hand, he dedicates a significant part of his work to building intricate, highly precise mechanical models of cars and engineering vehicles. Creating these models demands meticulous planning and strict precision The constant dialogue between the artist and the wood—oscillating between the amorphous creative freedom of woodturning and the structured mechanical precision of the models—is the very heart of his practice. It is what transforms every single piece into a journey of rediscovery.
