'*axes* : axes
*helper* : an AxisArtistHelper instance.'

def __init__(self, axes, helper, offset=None, axis_direction=u'bottom', **kw):

    super(AxisArtist, self).__init__(**kw)
    self.axes = axes
    self._axis_artist_helper = helper
    if (offset is None):
        offset = (0, 0)
    self.dpi_transform = Affine2D()
    self.offset_transform = ScaledTranslation(offset[0], offset[1], self.dpi_transform)
    self._label_visible = True
    self._majortick_visible = True
    self._majorticklabel_visible = True
    self._minortick_visible = True
    self._minorticklabel_visible = True
    if (axis_direction in [u'left', u'right']):
        axis_name = u'ytick'
        self.axis = axes.yaxis
    else:
        axis_name = u'xtick'
        self.axis = axes.xaxis
    self._axisline_style = None
    self._axis_direction = axis_direction
    self._init_line()
    self._init_ticks(axis_name, **kw)
    self._init_offsetText(axis_direction)
    self._init_label()
    self.set_zorder(self.ZORDER)
    self._rotate_label_along_line = False
    self._tick_add_angle = 180.0
    self._ticklabel_add_angle = 0.0
    self._axislabel_add_angle = 0.0
    self.set_axis_direction(axis_direction)
