Ankara- Valuable scraps project

Alan Williams
Dec 23, 2025
2 min read

I recently had the incredible opportunity to take part in Valuable Scraps 3 in Ankara, Turkey, and it was truly an unforgettable experience. From the moment I arrived, I was excited to meet artists I had admired and followed on social media for years. A couple of them were old friends I had exhibited with in Qatar back in 2018, and it was wonderful to reconnect after all these years.

Being considered highly ranked among some of the world’s best known scrap metal sculptors was an immense honour. For this project, I was given the choice to create either an octopus or a marlin, both with a minimum dimension of two meters. I chose the marlin because I wanted a challenge as I know octopus anatomy well, so the marlin allowed me to push my skills further. A big part of my piece was creating life and movement. I wanted the marlin to look like it was exploding out of a wave of scrap metal.

Working alongside such talented metal artists was inspiring. I was amazed at how quickly some participants worked, which made me realise that my own process is more time consuming due to the way I forge and shape the material before applying it. Around two-thirds of the way through, I started to feel a little concerned when some pieces were nearing completion while mine was still in the armature phase—but the supportive atmosphere kept everyone motivated. The project leaders were incredibly generous, providing everything we asked for and making the environment feel like a family.

The challenges of the project were also part of the thrill. We had only one day to select scrap metal from a site with a huge amount of material, much of which was too large or unusable. Normally, I have decades’ worth of components to choose from, so this was a real test of creativity. On top of that, we were using unfamiliar tools and limited equipment. Despite these constraints, I loved the challenge of producing work under pressure with such limitations.

The final pieces were stunning. Each artwork was unique, reflecting the individual artist’s style and approach, yet they were unified by the shared materials we used. Living, working, eating, and laughing together made every day enjoyable, even though the work was hard and the days were long. Seeing everyone’s exceptional creations was incredibly rewarding, and I feel grateful to have been part of this niche artistic community.

Opportunities like this are rare for metal artists. To be championed, supported, and treated with such generosity was both humbling and inspiring. I left Ankara with new friendships, re-established connections with old friends, and an even deeper appreciation for the people who organised this amazing project.

The artists involved in Valuable Scraps 3 were:

Julian Provenzano – Argentina

Micheal Torres Costa – Brazil

Matt Sloan – Australia

Steve Ekpensi – Nigeria

Abonoro Collins – Nigeria

John Lopez – USA

Gaston Gallardo – Mexico

Oladele Ogbeyemi – Nigeria

Ehtisham Jadoon – Pakistan

Working alongside these incredible artists and being part of such a unique international project was an experience I will cherish forever.