ISLAMABAD: Sparks fly and metal groans in a cavernous workshop on the outskirts of Islamabad, where Pakistani artist Ehtisham Jadoon fuses discarded car parts into colossal pieces inspired by “Transformers” movies and dinosaurs.
The 35-year-old sculptor’s studio brims with cogs, chains, hubcaps and engine parts as his hulking creations — a lion with a mane of twisted steel, a giant Tyrannosaurus rex and a towering Optimus Prime — take shape.
“I have always been fascinated by metal objects,” Jadoon told AFP after assembling the 14-foot (4-meter) “Transformers” character, his biggest creation yet.
This photograph taken on February 12, 2026 shows sculptor Ehtisham Jadoon collecting srap metal from a junkyard on the outskirts of Islamabad (AFP)
“When I see metals in scrap, I imagine forms in which it could be utilized.”
It took Jadoon and his team months of welding and warping to fashion his Optimus Prime, with over 90 percent of its parts sourced from discarded vehicle pieces.
The arms are forged from motorbike springs and gears, its shoulders are curve from car rims, the spine is molded from a fuel tank and its knees are pieced together with chains and suspension parts.
This photograph taken on February 12, 2026 shows workers carrying a model of Optimus Prime, a film character from Transformers, made from scrap metal by sculptor Ehtisham Jadoon (L) at his studio on the outskirts of Islamabad. (AFP)
Even its piercing eyes are crafted from vehicle bearings, completing a sculpture that is both intricate and awesome.
“Whenever I see an object, I visualize a form,” Jadoon said.
“I could imagine a block transforming into a shape, so I simply solve the puzzle and bring it to life.”
This photograph taken on December 29, 2025 shows sculptor Ehtisham Jadoon standing next to his creation made from scrap metal, a lion with a mane of twisted steel, at his studio on the outskirts of Islamabad. (AFP)
‘Waste becomes valuable’
Jadoon, a former martial artist who once worked in the steel fabrication business, has never formally studied art. He designs his gargantuan models spontaneously while working.
He told AFP he has to visit a doctor almost every week due to sparks affecting his eyes and burns on his hands and arms, yet he insists this is the only work in which he can channel the energy of his training as a fighter.
Jadoon’s work primarily focuses on crafting giants, beasts and powerful forms, which he describes as a reflection of aggression.
“Setting the anatomy and proportions requires visualization from multiple angles and repeated adjustments,” he said.
This photograph taken on December 29, 2025 shows sculptor Ehtisham Jadoon weilding scrap metal into Optimus Prime, a film character from Transformers, at his studio on the outskirts of Islamabad. (AFP)
Every week, Jadoon tours scrapyards in Islamabad, sifting through tons of discarded metal in search of pieces that fit into his imagination and then become sculptures.
“What is waste to us became something valuable in his hands,” scrapyard owner Bostan Khan told AFP.
“It’s incredible to witness.”
