Stunning original wall-mounted works made of natural wood by local artist

: Published: 19 October 2026

We were contacted by Jiri Benovsky, not only an artist, but also a philosopher, author, and podcast speaker! We asked him a few questions to know more about him as his upcoming exhibition and sale is coming up between 27 October and 1 November 2026 in Petit-Lancy. Jiri will present a series of original wall-mounted works made of natural wood, straddling the line between painting and sculpture. Each piece is created from a single piece of wood that has been split lengthwise and then unfolded in a mirror-like pattern. The grain, knots, and natural variations in the material thus form symmetrical shapes in which silhouettes, faces, landscapes, or more indeterminate figures may emerge. Nothing is artificially colored.

This work lies halfway between art and craftsmanship, between human intervention and the forms already present in the material.

Why did you start? What has been the inspiration?
It really began with guitar making. I learned to build acoustic guitars, and that taught me to look at wood in a completely different way. The woods I use for these pieces are normally used in lutherie. When a board is opened like a book, the inside can reveal extraordinary symmetrical patterns. I became fascinated by the idea that the image was already there, hidden inside the tree, and that my role was mainly to find it and reveal it.

Have you been working on this idea forever, or was it something that came to you recently?
This particular work started about three years ago. Before that I worked mainly with photography and drawing, which you can also see on my website, www.benovsky.com. So it is relatively new, but it grew quite naturally from things I was already interested in, especially images, perception and the way we recognise forms.

What is the biggest obstacle you have had to overcome?
Definitely finding the right and rare pieces of wood ! I can spend a lot of time searching for a piece of wood with the right grain, colours and accidents of growth. Over the years I have made contacts in many parts of the world, so there is a real treasure hunt behind each piece. Sometimes the hardest part is simply finding the wood that makes me stop and think, there is something in there.