ABERDEEN NEWS - Michael Pietersen (51) from Aberdeen has been making wire sculptures since his schooldays, selling a few pieces to make extra money.
His talent and ingenious use of recycled materials recently caught the eye of retired interior designer Ian Reed, who is excited to help Pietersen market his work.
Pietersen had little formal education, leaving school at the age of 16 with a Grade Six certificate. After working in Cape Town, he returned to the Karoo to take over his father's job as a farm labourer.
A few years ago, he fell and injured his back while repairing a windpump.
He also contracted tuberculosis and spent months in hospital. Although fully recovered, he is no longer able to work, and needs crutches to get around.
He was thrilled to receive a new RDP house in Aberdeen in 2016, and now spends most of his days working on his wire pieces.
These are not just simple animals or bicycles, but complex models, often with a story attached. One piece, which has pride of place on Reed's veranda, is a model farmyard, originally intended to be just a birdcage.
There are sheep and goats, covered in animal skin, a horse covered with vinyl offcuts, and a windpump with blades made from an old aerosol can.
Discarded imitation Christmas tree branches have been used for grass.
The whole construction is mounted on an old ironing board, and "there is even a stairway to the beach," Pietersen says proudly.
An Outsider Artist is usually someone with no formal training, often using unusual materials.
Michael works solely from his head, and as such, many of his pieces are out of proportion, but this adds to their charm.
"I asked him to make me an ostrich, but the head looked more like a flamingo," explained Reed, who showed Pietersen a photo of an ostrich to help him visualise the flat-topped head.
With an outlet planned at a new craft shop in Aberdeen, and inspiration from Reed's ideas and mentorship, Pietersen hopes to reach a new market and be able to better support his family.
'We bring you the latest Aberdeen, Karoo news'
