Jonathan
Darmon

Darmon's history as a sculptor begins much earlier in Toulouse, France, where his family emigrated in 1960 from Morocco, after the country had gained independence. Having finished his military service in the French army, in 1970 Darmon began studying sculpture and painting at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Toulouse and graphic arts at the local design school. At that time he won a first prize for his graphic works.

Darmon creates his sculptures in the enchanting atmosphere of Zefat, one of the most spiritual places in Israel. This unique city, with its tombs of righteous rabbis, was in the eighties a blooming cultural and artistic center; today it is home to many religious people, and is still wrapped in a mysterious veil of light reflected through the windows of Darmon's gallery.

The soft, bright air which enwraps the mountains surrounding the spiritual city of Zefat and steeps it in a heavenly atmosphere, is the life source of sculptor Jonathan Darmon's creative imagination. His sculptures are drawn in quick, long and dynamic lines, like musical notes dancing in the space around him. Forms are assembled and delicately placed where they belong.They open, stretch, gather, become thicker and thinner and constantly change until reaching their final shape, when they breath the touch of the spirit,of the artist's creative spirit. But even then, Darmon is still not satisfied. He puts the sketches he has made to one side and only looks at them again after a long time. He considers them again and again with a critical eye, asking himself if the three-dimensional models are mature enough to attain their final form and come to life in bronze, the material with which he loves to deal. Having worked for many years in the foundry of Haifa, Darmon has gained total control in handling this unique sculpture medium.