PHILIPPINES: Filipino welder turns scrap metal into art.

Record ID: 582884

  • Title: PHILIPPINES: Filipino welder turns scrap metal into art.
  • Date: 19th July 2012
  • Summary: MANILA, PHILIPPINES (JULY 16, 2012) (REUTERS- ACCESS ALL) SCRAP METAL ARTIST MARIO MALLARI JR. SHOWING METAL PANTHER SCULPTURE TO WOMAN PANTHER SCULPTURE SCRAP METAL PARTS IN PANTHER SCULPTURE SCRAP METAL SCULPTURES IN GALLERY SCULPTURE OF JAPANESE SAMURAI SCRAP METAL IN SCULPTURE GALLERY EXHIBIT PIG SCULPTURE MALLARI WELDING METAL MOTORCYCLE SCULPTURE BEING WELDED MALLARI USING SANDPAPER ON PANTHER SCULPTURE SCULPTURE MORE OF MALLARI SANDING PANTHER SCULPTURE MALLARI USING SANDPAPER ON PEACOCK SCULPTURE PEACOCK SCULPTURE BEING SANDED (SOUNDBITE) (Filipino) SCRAP METAL ARTIST MARIO MALLARI JR SAYING: "They are surprised when they see that the sculptures are made out of scrap metals, spark plugs, door knobs and other discarded materials attached to my pieces." MALLARI SCAVENGING AUTOMOTIVE PARTS MALLARI INSPECTING AUTOMOTIVE PART METAL COGS BEING SEGREGATED MALLARI AND EMPLOYEE CARRYING SCRAP METALS MANILA, PHILIPPINES (JULY 17, 2012) (REUTERS- ACCESS ALL) MALLARI INSPECTING SCRAP METALS INSIDE JUNK SHOP JUNK METAL CHAINS AND HOOKS (SOUNDBITE) (Filipino) SCRAP METAL ARTIST MARIO MALLARI JR SAYING: "The truth is, the idea is not inside me, but inside the metals I work with. These metals dictate the shape of my work and how they are constructed." MALLARI EXPLAINING ART PIECE TO WOMEN ROOSTER SCULPTURE WOMEN INSPECTING ROOSTER SCULPTURE GALLERY OWNER KITTEN ALCANTARA INSPECTING ROOSTER SCULPTURE WITH MALLARI ROOSTER SCULPTURE (SOUNDBITE) (English/Filipino) ART CIRCLE GALLERY OWNER KITTEN ALCANTARA SAYING: "A piece of art that an artist created out of materials that are recycled is very much appreciated by the market." MALLARI ARRANGING ART PIECE FISHERMAN SCULPTURE MALLARI LOOKING MOTORBIKE SCULPTURE
  • Embargoed: 3rd August 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Philippines
  • Country: Philippines
  • Topics: Arts
  • Reuters ID: LVAAZ9UKAT5XU1XYFBZUMW7RU5FX
  • Story Text: Filipino welder Mario Mallari Jr. scavenges scrap metals from junk shops and sculpts them into pieces of art.


    One man's junk can end up as another man's artwork.
    Filipino welder Mario Mallari Jr. takes scrap metals to his workshop in Manila's northern suburb and turns them into unique pieces of sculptures.
    These sculptures are made from nuts and bolts of old typewriters, automotive parts and other discarded metallic appliances that are cleverly welded together to form his art pieces.
    Mallari said people are surprised to find that the sculptures are made from bits of metal that was thrown away.
    "They are surprised when they see that the sculptures are made out of scrap metals, spark plugs, door knobs and other discarded materials attached to my pieces," he said.
    Mallari closed his welding shop in 2011 to concentrate on sculpting. He has kept the tools of his trade, using them to make his artworks. He says he's not earning a lot yet, but it's more fulfilling for him.
    His first motorbike sculpture, which gained popularity when he posted a picture on a social networking site, made him look into scrap metal art as an alternative business.
    Mallari spends most of his time visiting junk shops and industrial factory outlets for some useable scrap metals, which he chooses by looking at the pattern of the material.
    He says scrap metals are like puzzle pieces that can be rearranged to form a unique structure.
    "The truth is, the idea is not inside me, but inside the metals I work with. These metals dictate the shape of my work and how they are constructed," he said.
    After finding the right pieces, Mallari welds or screws the metal scraps together, taking into consideration the scrap metal's unique structure and his vision.
    He cuts the excess metal scraps with the help of power tools, removing rust and other impurities before spray painting the sculpture to a metallic finish.
    Some of his works include plastics, driftwood and other recycled materials to complement his metal compositions.
    Mallari has made dozens of animal designs ranging from lizards to elephants, while also doing miniature sculptures of tanks and soldiers, and even a Harley motorbike scrap replica upon request.
    A simple miniature sculpture costs around $35 USD, while prices can go as high as $2,000 USD for larger, more complex pieces.
    Mallari says he plans to continue creating scrap metal sculptures, hopefully building bigger and better sculptures that would inspire artists to consider taking up recycled art.
    Recycled art has been growing into a trend in the Philippine art industry as more artists are trying to engage their audience using reprocessed materials, Mallari says.
    Kitten Alcantara, gallery owner of Art Circle, says recycled art has a growing market in developing nations like the Philippines,
    "A piece of art that an artist created out of materials that are recycled is very much appreciated by the market," she says.
    Alcantara says Manila, which produces an average of 6,000 tonnes of trash daily, can be a big push for many artists to consider going into recycled art.
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