Jamil Bennani

JB Design

Wood sculptor

Sculpting dynamic emotions

Jamil's favourite type of wood to work with is samba
He sculpts mostly large objects as he believes they convey more emotions
His first piece was a contemporary secretary wrapped in leather with an integrated light source on the writing desk

Surrounded by creativity from a young age, Jamil Bennani's passion for sculpting was ignited by the desire to articulate emotions beyond words. Graduating from l'Institut Saint-Luc de Tournai in Belgium in 1985 with a degree in woodwork sculpture and later from l'École Supérieure des Arts Modernes de Paris in interior design, Jamil established his workshop, JB Design, in 1994. Moved by the cultural and artisanal diversity of his homeland, Morocco, along with its light, colours, and scents, Jamil's works reveal a common approach borrowed from the freedom of plastic and inspired by graphic balances that challenge and question artisanal and cultural traditions. Through innovative techniques such as silver and gold pigmentation, and the daring incorporation of materials like aluminum and bone inlays, he breathes dynamic life into raw materials, offering them a second existence under a new light.

Interview

What are your sources of inspiration?: In my artistic collections, I explore themes such as mutism, screams, kisses, fusion, and transparency. Each piece reflects the phases and emotions of life, encapsulating the journey of self-discovery and the quest for meaning. The sculptures often evoke faces that resemble masks, speaking volumes beyond silence.
Can you explain your creative process?: The process of my creations begins with sketching an idea, often followed by creating models to assess volume and proportions. Technical plans are then drafted before production commences, with the choice of wood tailored to the design. This interaction with the material triggers a fusion of ideas, inspiring a unique perspective and emotional resonance in the finished piece.
If you could pick an emotion to describe your connection with wood, what would it be?: All my emotions grow as the material transforms. Wood, mainly a living material, communicates so much special energy to me that I can only respect it as I transform it. It meets all my requirements and allows me to reach limitless horizons.
What is your advice for a young person who wishes to enter the profession?: The same as to all young people who want to embark on any path: make it a passion to give the best of yourself and thus be willing to transmit to future generations.

Jamil Bennani is a master artisan: he began his career in 1985 and he started teaching in 1986