Cultural reflections sculpted from metal

Artist works with scrap materials to create unique pieces he thinks of as priceless

At first glance, Huang Qicai's studio in a southern suburb of Taiyuan, Shanxi province, might look to the uninitiated like a recycling workshop, as it is filled with discarded wheel hubs and other types of metallic waste. Yet a closer look reveals a hidden world of art.

The first sculpture to confront visitors is a horse-like creature with its horned head held high. Soon, the heads of other animals swim into view - a chicken, snake and cow, each formed out of scrap metal and measuring more than 1 meter in height.