South African born sculptor, Michael Davies studied Fine Art at the University of Cape Town’s Michaelis School, obtaining his degree in photography in 1982. He followed this up with a master’s degree in 1987.
After working as a commercial photographer and having had numerous photographic exhibitions, Mike began working with steel about ten years ago. The works were essentially functional art forms, Guinea fowls, fish, water lilies etc. welded and crafted from mild steel with lights placed inside to reflect and enhance this.
These later developed into more sophisticated pieces using a complex Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) welding process involving stainless steel. The sculptured bird and animal forms Mike created began to be more three- dimensional and with a highly polished finish, these were quickly snapped up by art collectors in and around London where they were initially exhibited.
Soon after he decided to cast the originals in bronze and at the beginning of 2008 he produced his first bronze sculpture of two African buffalo fighting. “It was a wonderful experience to finally witness something which I had made three years previously in stainless steel, transformed into bronze, the casting and patina process was a further development to my art process,” Mike says.
What sets Mike’s work apart from other bronzes is the sculpting process itself. Traditionally bronze sculptors work in clay, putty or wax, prior to casting. Mike’s works are forged initially from steel. The raw energy created from the welding process as the steel is fused together is evident in each sculpture. There are very few sculptors working in this difficult medium and the final result is an original style that he has developed which is easily distinguishable from other bronzes.
The pieces are “alive”, and Mike has captured the essence of his subject with a detail that gives significant movement and expression.
We are proud to be able to launch Mike’s work to the UK along with the highly skilled work of his colleague John von Weise also from Cape Town.
Artists | |
