The Encounter: A Tribute to "Project Hail Mary
This piece stands as a visual enigma, challenging the viewer with a simple question: what do you see? To me, this sculpture represents my own interpretation of Rocky, the captivating alien character from the book and film Project Hail Mary. The sculpture is composed of three distinct, harmoniously integrated sections. The base is crafted from sculpted olive wood, providing both stability and an organic foundation. The central section is the product of meticulous woodturning and extensive "piercing" (open-work) techniques, which give the material an intricate, lace-like appearance. Crowning the piece are delicate, reaching "arms," topped with custom-cast epoxy spheres. This synthesis of natural materials, advanced technical craftsmanship, and modern mixed-media elements creates a powerful object that bridges the gap between literary imagination and intricate artistic execution.
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.
