From piles of scrap metal, this artist immortalises the world’s endangered wildlife

Growing up in the small town of Narembeen in Western Australia, Jordan Sprigg was surrounded by agriculture. As the son of a farmer, he never thought that a career in the arts was possible. Sprigg studied Psychology at university with the thought that it would provide him with a stable job. But in his final year, he decided to take a break and put his creative abilities to the test. With unlimited access to rusty old tools and tractor parts from his father’s pile of scrap metal, Sprigg began to forge larger-than-life sculptures of endangered animals. “I aim to highlight the plight of wildlife by sculpting them in their fierce and powerful forms,” he says. 

History is embedded in each piece Sprigg creates. “A lot of the materials I use have been sitting on a heap for 50 or 60 years already,” he says. With every rusted nut and bolt, Sprigg is showcasing the types of farming equipment that has been used in his hometown for generations. By giving this waste new life, Sprigg prevents the rusted metals from contaminating soil and water. Transforming it into impressive animals, from a marbled gecko to a turtle made from gears, he’s emphasising the threats they face. “It’s bringing awareness to what's still going on in the world,” Sprigg says. After the last male northern white rhino died in 2018 in Kenya, Sprigg created a piece in his honour, named Sudan. 

Through his ability to redefine junk as beauty, Sprigg developed his career and identity as an artist. For over nine years, he has salvaged decades-old metal and morphed it into magnificent works of art. “I never would have thought that I would be doing what I’m doing today,” he says. With each sculpture, he’s encouraging people around the globe to reconstruct their relationship with the natural world. 

Footage and photos by Jordan Sprigg Sculptures were used in the creation of this film.