MTW Archive: Laurent Niclot

Laurent Niclot  Interview:

I have always loved wood, so it was only natural for me to study woodworking, woodcarving, cabinet making, furniture making, and design. I discovered woodturning from Jean-François Escoulen, and I knew it was how I wanted to make a living. So, in 2015, at age 20, I took the six-month woodturning class at the Escoulen School in Aiguines, France, with Jean-François and Yann Marot. Then, the school hired me as an assistant and translator for 3 years, gave me a studio and a lathe to practice my passion, and the possibility to meet many other artists and woodturners who now inspire my work. Today my workshop is in Toulon (South of France) where I continue my work, and also teach woodturning. In the meantime, I travel in France but also in Belgium and in America to teach my craft and do some demonstartions of my work. I also started doing remote demonstrations of my work, providing a variety of demonstration topics from traditionnal woodturning to texturing and coloring, but also excentric, carving, hollowing…

My work

My work is experimental: I like to play with the wood and try new textures and colors, new tools, and new techniques. I also enjoy giving a new life to a piece of wood. My job as an assistant gave me the opportunity to find and use interesting wood that may have too many cracks and knots for the students. I carve with rotary tools and gouges to create new shapes and textures. My aim is to make pieces that are sculptural, decorative, and designed with a strong message or a story to tell. I also enjoy collaborating with other artists, creating pieces with a strong story and with materials or techniques that I wouldn’t be able to make on my own. It allows me to see my work with a different eye and evolve, learn and share an experience with that person.

Follow me on instagram : @laurent_niclot