Pakistani Artist Transforms Scrap Metal into Towering Transformers and Dinosaurs

By Bilal Haider :

In a sprawling workshop on the outskirts of the capital, sparks fly and metal groans as sculptor Ehtisham Jadoon breathes new life into discarded car parts, fashioning them into colossal replicas of Transformers characters and prehistoric beasts.

The thirty-five-year-old artist’s studio resembles an mechanical wonderland, filled with cogs, chains, hubcaps, and engine components that slowly transform into awe-inspiring creations a lion with a mane of twisted steel, a towering Tyrannosaurus rex, and a fourteen-foot Optimus Prime that stands as his largest achievement to date.

“I have always been fascinated by metal objects,” Jadoon explained during an interview at his workspace. “When I see metals in scrap, I imagine forms in which it could be utilised.”

From Scrapyard to Masterpiece

More than ninety percent of the materials used in his Optimus Prime sculpture came from discarded vehicle parts collected from local scrapyards. The arms are forged from motorcycle springs and gears, the shoulders curve from car rims, the spine moulded from a fuel tank, and the knees pieced together using chains and suspension components. Even the piercing eyes are crafted from vehicle bearings.

The sculpture required months of welding and shaping by Jadoon and his team, each piece carefully selected and positioned to bring the iconic character to life.

“Whenever I see an object, I visualise a form,” he said. “I could imagine a block transforming into a shape, so I simply solve the puzzle and bring it to life.”

Self-Taught Artist

Jadoon’s path to sculpture is unconventional. A former martial artist who once worked in steel fabrication, he has never received formal artistic training. Instead, he designs his gargantuan models spontaneously during the creative process, relying on instinct and visual imagination rather than detailed blueprints.

His background in martial arts continues to influence his work, though not without cost. He visits a doctor nearly every week due to sparks affecting his eyes and burns on his hands and arms. Yet he insists this is the only profession that allows him to channel the energy and discipline honed during his fighting days.

Powerful Forms and Aggression

Jadoon’s creations predominantly feature giants, beasts, and powerful forms, which he describes as reflections of aggression. The lion sculpture, with its flowing mane of twisted steel, exemplifies this aesthetic—fierce yet meticulously crafted.

“Setting the anatomy and proportions requires visualisation from multiple angles and repeated adjustments,” he explained, describing the painstaking process of bringing each creation to life.

Treasure Hunting in Scrap

Every week, Jadoon visits scrapyards across Islamabad, sifting through mountains of discarded metal in search of pieces that might fit into his evolving imagination. What others consider worthless refuse becomes raw material for his next masterpiece.

Bostan Khan, a scrapyard owner who regularly supplies Jadoon with materials, marvels at the transformation. “What is waste to us became something valuable in his hands,” he said.

Through his work, Jadoon demonstrates that art need not rely on expensive materials or formal training. Vision, patience, and an eye for hidden potential can transform the discarded and forgotten into objects of wonder and beauty.