

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.

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member and support independent arts publishing. Join a community of like-minded readers who are passionate about contemporary art, help support our interview series, gain access to partner discounts, and much more. Join now!