Artist Turns Nuts, Bolts And Scrap Metal Into Life-Sized Animal Sculptures
While environmentalists have called on the world to reuse and recycle, artist Brian Mock has taken this concept to a whole new level by creating works of art made of scrap metal. Based in the suburb of Portland, Oregon, Mock taught himself how to weld and began to experiment with metal sculptures in the late 1990s.
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At the scrapyard, we are used to throwing away old auto parts and useless silverware. Aloha Brian Mock, an artist from Oregon, turns scrap metal into whimsical outdoor sculptures. He preserves and reuses scraps like nuts, screws, and bolts. And he achieved this by sculpting incredible animal and human figurines.
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Before turning to metal sculpture in the 1990s, the Aloha-based sculptor spent his childhood sketching and most of his adult life painting and woodcarving. Brian Mock later taught himself how to weld, and he continues to make many beautiful items from scrap metal, including nuts, bolts, spools, and more.
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Mock has been exposed to various art media since he was a child, but it was not until the 1990s that he discovered his passion for upcycling art. He trained himself in welding so that he could see his concept art as metal sculptures.
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He is currently working on a herd of metal animals, including larger dogs, cats and lions, made entirely of recycled materials. Mock meticulously selects each piece of scrap metal to match the shape of his animals — the dog tails are depicted as flexible metal chains, and the soft ears are made from giant bent steel plates.
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"Giving old, ordinary things a new life like a sculpture is an artistically challenging yet rewarding process," said Brian Mock. My work aims to show resourcefulness while encouraging audience participation. The emotions of the audience inspire my creativity and help me realize my dreams to life. "
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Among the recycled metal sculptors' artwork is a California Brown Bear made using different types of rolling wheels and other metal parts; an elephant end table; and a lion. Brian Mock uses recovered metal to create his incredible animal sculptures. He selects each scrap carefully to match the forms of his subjects.
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"My sculptures are built entirely from recycled things and materials (almost all metal, but sometimes I will incorporate pieces of plastic for colour), said Brian Mock. I appreciate how people interact with them; they have a good time hunting for things they recognize
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It started out as a pastime, but as my sculpting skills improved, I turned it into a full-time job."
