Nowadays, more and more people are thinking about recycling old items – or upcycling them – to make new ones. Stag minstrel is a great example of such an upcycle: it turns old vinyl records into something completely different, yet totally functional and beautiful.
Here are 7 things you should know about stag minstrel upcycled artwork.
1) IT’S ALL MADE FROM RECYCLED VINYL RECORDS
The thing that makes stag minstrel so special – and one of the reasons why upcycling is becoming so popular these days – is that all pieces are made using used vinyl records, just like the ones we know from our childhoods (and also adulthood around). This technique has been for quite some time now, but it’s beginning to be more and more widely used for a number of reasons (including the fact that it is eco-friendly, of course).
2) THE ARTWORK HAS AN INTERESTING HISTORY
The technique was invented by Muneaki Masuda back in 2001. He started making these playful stag minstrels after seeing a rather depressing picture on Japanese TV: the landfill near his hometown had become completely full, and he wanted to do something about it. Thus, stag minstrel was born.
3) THEY COME IN DIFFERENT SHAPES AND SIZES
The artwork itself comes in various forms – from small keyrings or mobile phone cases up to large decorative wall pieces or even lamps. There aren’t really any limits when it comes to this type of upcycling.
4) DIFFERENT STAG MINSTRELS HAVE DIFFERENT MEANINGS
The word “stag” means beautiful in Japanese, and the design has a very lovely resemblance to an antler – which is why the piece is often called “the deer” by its fans. The deer can also be interpreted as a symbol of strength and courage.
5) STAG MINSTRELS ARE NOT ONLY MADE FROM VINYL RECORDS
While all stag minstrels are made using old LPs or singles, there are some pieces that combine several ones. This way, it becomes possible to give them more depth by adding movement or making them look more 3D. Of course, this makes it even harder to recycle records than usual.
6) YOU CAN GET STAG MINSTREL ARTWORK ONLINE
Since the technique is getting more and more popular, there are numerous sites where you can order ready-made stag minstrel artworks online (in case we’ve inspired you). They make perfect gifts, and it’s also a nice way to decorate your home or office.
7) THE PROCESS OF CREATING STAG MINSTRELS IS NOT SIMPLE. BUT IT HAS GOTTEN EASIER OVER TIME!
The whole process of making these pieces includes cutting out all single parts separately before gluing them together. This might sound easy – however, it really isn’t that easy to cut vinyl records without completely ruining them (the process works best with used vinyl records). Thankfully nowadays, there are several more effective ways of creating stag minstrels – it’s slowly becoming easier to recycle old records.
So, are you impressed by how much effort went into making these stag minstrel upcycled? Do you think they are cool enough to become the next big trend in interior design? Feel free to share your opinion with us.