I've always been fascinated by objects degraded by time and use - rusty truck boxes, scratched tools, bent signage, Boba Fett's helmet. Imperfect veneers that constantly change from the rigors of life. Chipped, scratched and faded but still useful. Each mark, gouge and dent tells a story, spins a yarn or becomes a fable because the truth is lost forever. As I get older, this ethos has become more personal - the dings and patinas we suffer through life create transcendent wisdom and insight. Paradoxically, it gives us an opportunity - consciously or not - to create myths, mysteries or alter the past because absolute truth is always in doubt. Our history is a story we tell ourselves. The work explores this concept in minimal forms, muted palettes and nature's input.

My work has a spiritual nod to the Japanese concept of 'wabi-sabi'. Simplistically it's a world view centered on the acceptance of transience and imperfection. The aesthetic is sometimes described as one of appreciating beauty that is "imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete" in nature. Author Richard Powell distills the belief through a western lens - "Wabi-sabi nurtures all that is authentic by acknowledging three simple realities:  nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect." 

I try to employ a 'circular economy' principle during the creation of my work - using scrap from previous projects, found objects or reclaiming portions that were 'dead ends'. In the latest iteration, I find myself cannibalizing sections of old work and integrating them into new creations with more of the naturally weathered steel being exposed . 

Sub-textually, the work is a critique of conspicuous consumption fueled by the transformation from artisan capitalism to the current neo-feudal, government corporatism. The former,  which created necessary and enduring products has been replaced by a wasteful system promoting mindless consumerism for temporary objects and short-lived gratification. I think it's incumbent for artists be aware of how their matériel and energy use impacts society.