"Echoes of War" – A Playboy Commission by Bran Symondson

One-of-a-Kind Wall-Mounted AK-47 Sculpture | Not for Sale – Private Collection

In a world where beauty and brutality often intertwine, Bran Symondson’s “Echoes of War” stands as a hauntingly powerful statement—both a visual spectacle and a layered narrative. Commissioned by Playboy magazine, this wall-mounted sculpture features two decommissioned AK-47 rifles in stark opposition, reflecting the light and dark dualities of human nature, conflict, and culture.

On the right: an AK-47 cloaked entirely in ultra-matte Black 3.0 paint, the blackest black pigment on earth. Its surface is adorned with real black butterfly species, their delicate wings contrasting against the weapon’s cold steel, forming a ghostly, almost invisible beauty that emerges only upon closer inspection. Anchoring this side of the piece is a haunting, handcrafted reinterpretation of the iconic Playboy bunny logo—a real rabbit skull, sculpted with moulded ears to create a skull-version of the symbol. This striking emblem serves as a somber tribute to Hugh Hefner, marking the end of an era where Playboy held cultural significance far beyond its pages.

Opposing this shadow is the left side of the sculpture: a natural wood-stock AK-47, bursting with iridescent blue Morpho butterflies and vibrant yellow specimens, symbolising life, allure, and the surreal glamor that once gave soldiers brief moments of escapism during times of unimaginable darkness. Intertwined among these butterflies are delicate origami butterflies—each one meticulously crafted from the miniature centre-folds of vintage 1960s Playboy magazines. These elements anchor the work in the Vietnam War era, a time when Playboy became an unexpected force of morale for American troops overseas. The cultural paradox of sending erotic magazines into a brutal jungle war is both absurd and deeply human—and Bran captures this complexity with precision and nuance.