Face (Pilchuck 6)

Over the past few decades, Bertil Vallien has dedicated himself to advancing the manipulation of glass as an artistic medium, turning particularly to the use of sandcasting, a technique which was originally developed for industrial purposes, such as metal casting. Originally trained in ceramics, he became fascinated with the light-absorbing properties of glass in the 1960's and 1970's, creating works of varied form and technique, which he infused with metaphysical and pre-historical motifs. In the 1990s, Vallien began to focus on simplifying the form of his creations and taming the natural translucency of his glass. He has continued to create works which allude to the abstract and transcendental, calling for reflection, particularly through the inclusion of human faces. In Face, Vallien combines this newer motif with another recurring archetype in his work: the form of a boat. While the shape of Face denotes a vessel meant for travel and the exploration of new worlds, its decoration is akin to the tribal masks of such far-off lands. The work speaks simultaneously to discovery both new and primal, of exotic lands and of ancient tradition.