ARTIST STATEMENT
I create sculptures that aim to evoke profound contemplation and resonate with my audience. I use wood as my primary medium and draw inspiration from the organic shapes found in nature. My fascination with wood has driven me to explore all ecological regions of the continent in search of exceptional pieces of timber. To achieve the desired effect on the material, I employ a range of techniques, such as burning, charring, brushing, distressing, oiling, buffing, bleaching, ageing, dyeing, and quenching. The natural beauty of wood enhances the organic forms of my sculptures, and I often include raw steel or brass, resulting in genuinely singular pieces.
My goal is for my sculptural forms to be larger than life and to offer an awakening of an ancestral and mythical response in an urbanized context. I seek to challenge our relationship to the wild by reinstating the unapologetic elements of natural beauty in a hyper-modern world.
My passion for sculpture is deeply rooted in my love for nature and human cultures. My sculptures have been exhibited in galleries, shows, and outdoor installations, and I have been commissioned to create site-specific sculptures for private art collections.
As I work away with my tools, the trees I use reveal an archaeology of sorts, with years of archived photons, captured carbon, and countless external events - an exquisite balance of growth and decay. My works seek to encourage a discourse between the ecological and the man-made, between the natural, external sphere, and the human, inner sphere.
I currently operate a gallery and workshop in the Docklands, near Melbourne's CBD, and my works are exhibited around the country. I continue to evolve my practice with a keen eye towards the future, with a vision that involves creating larger, site-specific public artworks, as well as finely crafted small and medium objects appropriate for local and international exhibitions.