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A bug’s life begins when DVD players die

Steve Wakeling turns old DVD and VCR players into insect sculptures.

Steve Wakeling turns old DVD and VCR players into insect sculptures. Photo: ABC

Steve Wakeling’s garage is crawling with bugs – and robots and dragons.

His creepy crawly sculptures come to life thanks to old electronics from televisions, VCRs and DVD players.

“They look very futuristic, they look very mechanical,” Mr Wakeling said of his creations.

“The wiring and the miniature detail that goes into the parts of a DVD player is amazing. They’re very pretty.

Mounted recycled bugs

Old TV elements and circuit boards form the bodies of the bugs. Photo: ABC

“The parts that go into the bugs, they’re rare parts and they’re getting rarer.

“Pretty soon you won’t see them unless they’re in art.”

Mr Wakeling started making bugs from recycled bits and bobs after he saw something similar online.

Close look at butterfly sculpture

While bodies of the bugs are all recycled material from electronics, Steve Wakeling prints the wings. Photo: ABC

He said he had always been good with his hands and liked creating things, so when he saw the bugs he worked out how to make them himself.

“It’s probably a gift really. I just see things in my head and stuff around until it works.”

Also in the garage are dragon head sculptures made from papier-mâché and old bed sheets.

A robot sculpture made of old electronics

Steve Wakeling says he has always liked making things with his hands. Photo: ABC

Mr Wakeling has no formal art training and said he never drew a design first – he just starts making shapes and watches it evolve.

“Everything in life is made up of shapes,” he said.

“Once you get the basic shapes together to look like a head, then you can add the fine detail like the horns, the eyes, the nose and everything.”

Mr Wakeling said he went through phases with his art practice.

“My next hobby, I’ve bought a welder and I’m going to be doing some metal sculpture.”

Steve Wakeling with bird puppet

This bird puppet has blinking eyes, a movable mouth and a very cheeky personality. Photo: ABC

He said he was always thinking of things he could make.

“My wife sometimes gets a bit annoyed because my mind is off in the distance and she’s talking to me and I have to say, ‘What was that?’ because I’m always thinking of things to make,” he said.

Mr Wakeling shares his process on his Facebook page.

-ABC

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