I had a conversation today with a writer about my art, the sculpture I make, and a few other things. Much of my sculpture involves found objects, primarily stainless steel. The ready-made object carries with it a social understanding that is used and modified to give new meaning. I find these ready-mades many places; junk yards, industrial factories, second hand shops, the side of the road, mostly anywhere. The hunter/gatherer instinct is satisfied by this search for materials. I then sort, pile and group these things. Much as writers form thoughts that grow into stories using words, my found objects are analogous to language, these objects are reassembled to create new meaning . The things I collect are rearranged and modified, cut and attached, grouped, bent, reduced, chipped, welded, ground, assembled and polished. This presents the familiar in a new light, causing the everyday to be looked at with new wonder. My influences and interests range from the naturalistic to the scientific, the art macrocosm to the world of the spirit. My art examines my place in my world and invites visitor to come along and share the journey of discovery.

Mike Helbing