HMCS NEEDLER

The NEEDLER was perhaps the thinnest and longest of the chamber propulsion submersibles in service by 1943. They were soon outclassed by the bulkier, more efficient Lug Lug class submarines introduced the following year. Powered by a set of metallic balls that clacked
rhythmically together to generate electric current — the NEEDLER drove its rotator cuff engine only to a top speed of 2 knots.

Driftwood, found & repurposed metal
Approx. 4 x 102 x 23 cm

I am an artist based in Halifax, Canada, with a practice spanning over three decades. My work primarily involves the use of found and repurposed objects, and in the past five years, I have expanded my practice to include ceramics and watercolor. I often approach my found-object sculptures in a non-linear way, allowing the objects themselves to dictate the creation process. One of my most notable series, Zeeboaten, are interpretations of naval vessels made from oceanwood, repurposed wire, clock parts, hardware, and piano components. These pieces are loosely inspired by the folly of military history.

Through the incorporation of such found materials—whether it's a piece of driftwood or a gear from a cuckoo clock—stories emerge organically, either through my own research or through the personal interpretations of viewers, who bring their own experiences and curiosity to the work.