At this stage in my practice, I have been considering a range of experiences that I can respond to in a meaningful, artistic way. I often find myself in conversation with some of the more vulnerable members of our society, those who are homeless, struggling with various personal issues or just 'atypical' in some way. Many of these individuals have become good friends, and I find that some of the ideas of isolation, disenfranchisement and loneliness are actually not by any means limited to such situations as theirs but are in fact fairly unanimous among everyone. I was thinking about materials that could symbolise such feelings - metal, concrete, a sleeping bag. Emblems of the modern nomad and the struggles that some of us face. The use of the sleeping bag and the name BUM is by no means representative of homelessness, but instead serves as both a frank reminder of our own experiences with isolation and the clichés that are projected on the incredibly varied lives of vulnerable, lonely and displaced individuals. There is a definite critical link to be made between BUM and Gavin Turk's Nomad (http://gavinturk.com/artworks/image/270). But, whilst Turk's sleeping bag is a visual illusion, painted bronze made to appear as fabric, my sculpture remains very much set within a DIY aesthetic - I am not trying to deceive the audience, but to present a very raw interpretation of the images and the materials allude to.