Bob Dylan's new sculpture exhibition, Mood Swings, has opened in Central London's Halcyon Gallery and will offer visitors a chance to experience the singer's lesser-known skill for metalwork. The exhibition features his distinctive and ornate iron sculptures, made with scrap metal, as well as paintings, bullet-ridden car doors and mock-up covers of classic American magazine, TIME and Playboy.

Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan Shows Off His Welding Skills In A New Exhibition.

The 72 year-old musician, who has amassed 110 million record sales to date, has said that the inspiration for the collection comes from his Minnesotan heritage. "I've been around iron all my life ever since I was a kid. I was born and raised in iron ore country - where you could breathe it and smell it every day. And I've always worked with it in one form or another," he explained, via Sky News.


One of the collection's most striking pieces is a set of imposing black and red gates with jagged detailing that visitors will presumably be able to walk through. Dylan said that the gates appealed because of "the negative space they allow", adding: "They can be closed but at the same time they allow the seasons and breezes to enter and flow. They can shut you out or shut you in. And in some ways there is no difference."

Bob Dylan Sundance
Dylan's Exhibition Is Said To Be Inspired By His Minnesotan Heritage.

Dylan has just been awarded France's prestigious Legion of Honour award that is presented to individuals who have served France in admirable ways. Though Bob isn't French, he was still able to receive the award and was praised by Culture Minister Aurelie Filippetti who spoke warmly of his songs, according to NME.

Bob Dylan Hop Farm
Dylan Was Awarded France's Prestigious Legion Of Honour.

However, Dylan was temporarily blocked from the award after French army general Jean-Louis Georgelin voiced a concern that Dylan smoked cannabis and wrote anti-war lyrics. After some debate, these concerns were eventually overturned in light of Dylan's inspiration for 'young people hungry for justice' and he received his award at a Paris ceremony on Wednesday (13th Nov.).

Bob Dylan's Mood Swings exhibition will be on display at London's Halcyon Gallery until the 25th January 2014.