Trieu from Ben Tre province has been working as a mechanic for more than 10 years. He has had many jobs: acting as a model for art students, making reliefs, and making plaster and cement models.

In 2018, when visiting his aunt’s home, he saw some old broken tires and decided to use them to create a set of tables and chairs which were then placed in the garden. 

Many people saw the art works, impressed by the beauty and originality, and ordered similar tables and chairs to decorate their homes. 

Trieu created many sets of tables and chairs, but he wanted to do something even more special.

He found that in the residential quarter where he lives, there were many vehicle repair workshops which discharged old tires every day. 

He began searching for information on the internet about how to create a model from tires.

In late November 2022, he set to work to create a King Kong model.

The outer fur of the King Kong was made entirely from old motorbike tires, while the frame was created from iron and steel and its eyes from two soup spoons which were painted by Trieu to show the power of the gorilla king.

Trieu collected 200 old tires at VND5,000 each and managed to shape the King Kong model. After two months, the model was completed. It is 2.2 meters high, 1.5 meters wide and 2.5 meters long and weighs 300 kilograms.

“The hardest work when creating the model was cutting motorbike tires,” he said.

Only using scissors, Trieu removed the metal wire of the tires, chose tires of different types to cover the King Kong frame to create muscle and tendon effects. The final thing he had to do was cover the King Kong with glossy black paint. Finally, a model was created, catching the special attention from the people in his hometown.

When Trieu introduced his work on social networks, many people showed their admiration. 

“Many people have given suggestions on what to do to create a more beautiful model and others have ordered to create models of other animals,” he said.