We are used to seeing antique ornate wooden furniture, but seeing exquisitely carved wood decorative items are still a rarity. The person who infuses soul in wood is the Italian sculptor, Nino Orlandi, who has dedicated over 13 years in perfecting his sculpting technique. Little wonder his wood sculptures seem so realistic.
One look at Nino’s works and its magical effect will immediately have you under its spell. What’s even more surprising is this gifted wood carver is completely self-taught. His series on wooden books, titled as ‘The Book of Life’, ‘The Book of Dreams’ and ‘The Magic Mountain’, is most appealing. The finely crafted hands and other details in these books are a testimony to both his carving skills and his fantastic imagination.
Nino displayed interest in wood from his very childhood. However, he held his passion for wood carving under check and expressed his craft in wood only much later. Says he, “I was born in Serramazzoni, a mountain village in the Apennines near Modena in 1946, where I currently live and have my lab. From a young age, I have a passion for sculpture. I was 18 years old when I started, then for reasons of time and effort, I suspended sculpture and occasionally I’ve dedicated myself to painting. Only in 2000, I was able to devote full time to sculpture and discovered my passion for wood.”
Nino has managed to develop and produce his works that showcase both his technical expertise and artistic expression. Each piece not only displays his mastery over wood carving but also tells a story. It’s certainly fascinating to see how details emerge from raw wood…hands reaching out, faces floating up through the wood, and the like. Despite his awe-inspiring works, he has never participated in competitions, but only displayed his works locally.
Nino Orlandi
