Reflections is a large etched-glass sculpture depicting a central frog flanked by the two heads of a sea serpent (Sisiutl). In Coast Salish design, Sisiutl is often depicted as a two-headed sea serpent with a horn on the top of its head; both frog and Sisiutl are revered for their adaptability and ability to travel across boundaries and between worlds. Reflections references the interplay between negative and positive elements and is a modern take on a spindle whorl design using the traditional Coast Salish design elements.
Dylan Thomas, Reflections, 2019, glass, red cedar and paint. SFU Art Collection. Gift of the Salish Weave Collection of George and Christiane Smyth, 2022.
Title
Reflections
Artist
Dylan Thomas (Qwul’thilum)
Year
2019
Medium
Glass, red cedar, paint
Collection
SFU Art Collection
Donor
Gift of the Salish Weave Collection of George and Christiane Smyth
Year Acquired
2022
Artists
Dylan Thomas (Qwul'thilum) (b. 1986, Victoria, British Columbia) is a Coast Salish artist and is a member of the Lyackson First Nation of Valdes Island. Thomas’s unique style expresses concern for the health of the land and our relationship with it. He integrates layers of historical knowledge found in Salish cultural practices with complex geometric designs from around the world. Such influences are as varied as Vajrayana Buddhist mandalas, Celtic knots, and Islamic tessellations.