My work begins where others might see the end of a material’s life. I am drawn to metal that has already lived a story, rusted, bent, or discarded, and I see in it the possibility of renewal. Each piece carries a memory of its previous function, and through heat, hammer, and patience, I try to reveal its next form.
Nature is my greatest collaborator. The movements of birds, the intricate architecture of insects, and the quiet intelligence of natural patterns all influence the lines and gestures that emerge in my sculptures.
Working with recycled materials is both an environmental choice and a spiritual one, a reminder that transformation is always possible, and that beauty often arises from what has been overlooked. In every sculpture, I aim to preserve a sense of the metal’s raw truth while inviting a feeling of life and motion. The process is part dialogue, part discovery: I shape the material, and it, in turn, teaches me about resilience, balance, and impermanence. Ultimately, my work is about renewal, not just of materials, but of perception. It asks us to look again, to see vitality where we thought there was none, and to recognize that even in decay, there is still grace.
Martin Wasserfall began his career in fine art foundries, developing a deep respect for craftsmanship and material integrity. His early work led him to Edinburgh, Scotland, where he collaborated with leading Scottish artists at a prominent fine art foundry. There, he honed his skills in bronze casting, patina, and restoration, contributing to the preservation of historic public sculptures throughout Edinburgh while creating his own figurative bronze works.
After relocating to Canada, he continued his foundry work in Edmonton for over six years, specializing in the restoration and conservation of the city’s public bronze sculptures and monuments. This period deepened his sensitivity to the life of materials and the quiet dialogue between form, decay, and renewal.
Since 2021, he has been based on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, where his practice has evolved toward metal assemblage and sculpture using reclaimed and recycled materials. His work draws inspiration from the natural world, birds, insects, and organic forms, reflecting both ecological awareness and poetic transformation. Through his ongoing body of work, he merges craftsmanship, ecology, and imagination, transforming discarded metal into vibrant expressions of life and renewal.
The Artist’s Statement about Da Vinci’s Ravens:
Da Vinci’s Ravens is a sculptural series that imagines what might have happened if Leonardo da Vinci had turned his fascination with flight toward the raven, a creature of intelligence, mystery, and powerful aerial grace. The series draws on the spirit of Leonardo’s inventive mind, merging mechanical structure with organic form and echoing the harmony found in his early sketches of flying machines.
Each sculpture combines natural bird anatomy with industrial components, creating ravens that feel both ancient and futuristic, as though they stepped out of a Renaissance workshop built for the natural world. Feathers become metal plates, tendons become articulated linkages, and the essence of the bird emerges from engineered geometry. The flowing organic lines of the metal highlight its elegance and reflect the problem solving intelligence that both ravens and mechanical design share.
Together, these works invite viewers into a space where engineering meets wildlife, where the mechanical becomes alive, and where familiar forms can be seen in a new way. Part machine, part bird, each sculpture is fully expressive of motion, ingenuity, and the enduring human desire to understand and recreate the natural world.
