ArtMetal

I'm going to be creating a 5' tall metal sculpture. I want to create it out of small (~1" or a bit smaller diameter) disks, or washers, or whatever I can find cheaply and in bulk. This sculpture just needs to support its own weight, so doesn't have to be super strong.

Can I have some suggestions as to what the least expensive material for this might be, and then from there, how I should connect them together? (It's going to be a fish, so I want to create it as Scales, and have the discs overlapping a bit. (I was thinking washers because they're readily available and would weigh less than solid small discs).

Could I solder it, or do I need to weld it somehow?

Sorry for the super-beginner questions, but I have an Idea and not much of a plan yet. Thought I'd come here to people who know more about metal than I do! (I have access to a shop with MIG, TIG, a soldering gun, etc etc).

Thanks!!