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Nebil Zaman’s Furniture Forms Are Up for Interpretation

09.20.22 | By
Nebil Zaman’s Furniture Forms Are Up for Interpretation

Kurdish/Norwegian designer Nebil Zaman began his studies as an art director in advertising before taking a left turn toward woodworking and furniture design. Today he lives in Oslo, merging furniture with architecture, art, and technology, and exploring how our surroundings affect us socially and culturally.

Zaman’s latest work is a series of cut plaster cast MDF furniture forms with an emphasis on material and texture. The exteriors are plaster, giving each piece a sense of organic freedom, while the armatures inside are digitally fabricated and precise. Both balance each other out with handcrafted and technological elements. The collection was made exclusively for Side Gallery as a continuation of Zaman’s previous plaster work.

large white, yellow, and black rock-like sculpture and modern purple chair in a gallery space

To create furniture, Zaman digitally draws or searches out interesting 3D models before then sectioning it into 2D. Laser cuts or CNC mills these pieces to create the parts before they’re assembled and brought into the third dimension. This structure then acts as a base for the many thin layers of plaster and wood glue built upon it. Many of Zaman’s creative designs have obvious functions, while others are left up to interpretation.

In 2022, Zaman has presented work at London Craft and was also selected for the group show “Matter” Norwegian Presence durning Salone del Mobile.

two multi-colored rock-like sculptures on display in a gallery

white plaster cactus and coffee table in a gallery space

white plaster table in a gallery space

white plaster cactus in a gallery space

white plaster table in a gallery space

exhibition of white plaster furniture in a gallery space

exhibition of white plaster furniture in a gallery space

exhibition of white plaster furniture in a gallery space

exhibition of white plaster furniture in a gallery space

white plaster console table on a white background

Console

white plaster dining table on a white background

Dining Table

white plaster cactus on a white background

Large Kaktus

white plaster coffee table on a white background

Medium Coffee Table

white plaster pair of arches on a white background

Pair of Arches

white plaster round coffee table on a white background

Round Coffee Table

white plaster cactus on a white background

Small Kaktus

white plaster wall sconce on a white background

Small Lampette

white plaster side table on a white background

Small Side Table

To learn more, visit side-gallery.com.

Kelly Beall is Director of Branded Content at Design Milk. The Pittsburgh-based writer and designer has had a deep love of art and design for as long as she can remember, from Fashion Plates to MoMA and far beyond. When not searching out the visual arts, she's likely sharing her favorite finds with others. Kelly can also be found tracking down new music, teaching herself to play the ukulele, or on the couch with her three pets – Bebe, Rainey, and Remy. Find her @designcrush on social.