Tag Archives: animals

Enormous Cows Made from Recycled Car Parts

Enormous Cows Made from Recycled Car Parts sculpture recycling cows cars animals

The education section of Helsinki-based sculptor Miina Äkkijyrkkä’s CV is very telling, it reads: 1965-1966 Equine College Ypäjä; 1967-1968 Dairy Farming School of North-Savo; 1969-1973 The School of the Fine Arts of Finland. Meaning that for the better part of nearly 50 years Äkkijyrkkä has been working with cows, both in their care and using them as a muse in her lengthy career as an artist. Indeed, a section of her website reads “Models” and links to a gallery of nothing but cows. Her sculptures are immense. She purchases dozens of used vehicles from dealers around Finland and uses the colorful scraps to form these towering bovines that at times look coincidentally like an At At from Star Wars. Although a completely different artform, this symbiosis of cow and human reminded me of Miru Kim (nsfw) who famously photographs herself nude with pigs; the photos are really quite stunning. (via illusion, photos by juha metso)

New Works from Edouard Martinet

Shrimp. Thorax and head: car mascot and tongs; antennae: radio antennae; abdomen: Solex fenders and hair pins; tail: electrical fans; legs: bike brakes and snail forks. Click for detail.

Grasshopper. Wings: Moped chain guards; abdomen: bike fender, dolex fender and old toys; rear legs: bike forks; forelegs: bike brakes; ends of legs: plugs for plaster walls; thorax and head: pieces of cars and bikes; antennae: bike spokes. Click for detail.

Dublin Bay Prawn. Thorax and head: car mascot, old car wing covers (aluminium); antennae: bike brake cables; abdomen: Solex fender, hair pins; tail: electrical fans; legs: bike brakes and snail forks; claws: poultry scissors, chromium-plated covers on 50’s moped tanks, slicers; eyes: inside handles of 40s Peugeot. Click for detail.

French sculptor Edouard Martinet uses myriad discarded parts from old bicycles, cars, and mopeds to create these astonishingly anatomically correct representations of sea life, birds, amphibians, and insects.

I’ve been wanting to do a post about Martinet for months after first discovering his work on My Modern Met, however it appeared the sculptures had spread like wildfire and were covered pretty thoroughly there and elsewhere. So I bookmarked his website and visited it occasionally hoping for an update (this is basically all I do anymore, hit refresh on artists portfolios until something new pops up. Thanks college education!). Then I grew impatient. So I shot an email to Edouard and after a quick exchange he pointed me in the direction of Sladmore Gallery in London where he’s represented and sure enough with the kind help of Gerry Farrell I was able to piece together some of these lovely images of his more recent work. The bonus photo at the bottom is a peek inside the artist’s workshop where old bicycles go to die and new creatures are given life.

By Christopher on August 29, 2011 • animals metal sculpture

Diogo Hornburg

I’m really enjoying the work of Brazilian illustrator Diogo Hornburg.

By Christopher on August 23, 2011 • animals birds illustration

Deborah Butterfield

Deborah Butterfield wood sculpture horses animals

A number of new works by Deborah Butterfield who assembles these striking horse sculptures using tree branches made from bronze. ~~I can’t imagine the process involved in finding the perfect piece of wood for each delicate line~~. Her upcoming show at Danese in NYC runs September 9 through October 8, 2011. (via ex-chamber)

By Christopher on August 23, 2011 • animals horses sculpture wood

Ludo in Chicago

Ludo in Chicago street art stencils Chicago bugs animals

French street artist LUDO made a quick, sweeping tour across the U.S. this month with stops in Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York. His signature wheatpastes are hard to miss, often hybridizing insects and plants with mechanical objects such as tanks and airplanes. The above works photographed by Brock Brake are from here in Chicago, but head over to Arrested Motion for a broader overview of the artist and his work in other cities. Thanks to Brock and Pawn Works (previously) for hosting the artist.

By Christopher on August 22, 2011 • animals bugs Chicago stencils street art

WWF Ads by Murilo Melo

(click images for detail)

I can’t get enough of Murilo Melo’s work apparently. These are two additional posters he designed for the World Wildlife Fund that show a dead tree and barren reef with their component wildlife removed and displayed alongside them asking you to imagine these ecosystems without plants and animals. Beautiful.

By Christopher on August 19, 2011 • advertising animals conservation environment infographics posters and prints

Polygon Double Deer #2

Polygon Double Deer #2 sculpture geometric deer animals

This is an intriguing new sculptural piece by artist Kohei Nawa entitled Polygon Double Deer #2. Photograph by Omote Nobutada courtesy Sandwich.

By Christopher on August 9, 2011 • animals deer geometric sculpture

Tree of Life Poster by Degree

I just reached for my wallet so quickly I tore a hole in my pants. The folks over at Degree have just printed this fantastic offset lithograph print entitled Tree of Life. The rings of the tree are created with tiny animals.

This unique poster aims to highlight the responsibility we have in letting animal species thrive in their natural environment—we have a choice whether or not to preserve nature and let it grow. Specially designed to assert this crucial message, it forms the basis of social attitudes towards Mother Nature for the many people out there who want to make a difference in our world.

Printed on 9 Lives Recycled Eco Frontier 250gsm paper. Only $45. (via omg posters)