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Of Limewood and Walnut


Bruno Walpoth makes intricate human figures from wood, and it's always a treat to watch him create new life out of nothing. For each sculpture, the Italian artist begins by meeting and dealing with models. After these initial steps are completed, the bodies, lines and forms of the mysteriously attractive men and women take shape from the block of wood by means of his hands. They gaze on with indifference, glance around in suspicion, or carry blank stares. I know I've said this probably a hundred times before, but I'm continually amazed at how an artist can create something that's both unsettling and captivating.

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