Octopus. This Octopus steampunk sculpture began with a bronze propeller that I found at a flea market. It immediately suggested a marine theme, and I started looking for other objects that could help me create an octopus.

The main parts came from quite different sources: a lamp cover, a bronze vase, a vacuum cleaner body and a set of eight flexible metal hoses with magnetic tips, originally used for picking up small metal objects during car repairs. Their flexibility made them perfect for creating the octopus’s long tentacles.

Since the sculpture is assembled from different metals, I wanted to bring all the elements together with a unified colour. I used spray paint, acrylic paint and varnish to create a finish with a subtle green patina.

The sculpture tells the story of the remains of a ship that has been lying on the seabed for a long time. An octopus guards the wreck, which has become its home. It has even taken command of the sunken vessel – now it is the captain!

This Octopus steampunk sculpture combines found objects, marine imagination and a touch of humour, giving an old collection of metal parts a new underwater story.

Materials:
Propeller – a bronze propeller.
Body – a vacuum cleaner housing, a lathe handwheel and a bronze vase.
Tentacles – eight flexible metal pickup tools with magnetic tips and stainless steel shafts.
Additional details – chandelier parts and Swarovski crystals.
Finish – spray paint, acrylic paint and varnish.

Dimensions: 48 × 36 cm
Weight: 7.3 kg
Year: 2023
Price: €1100