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The “Art of the Brick” LEGO exhibition is a captivating and imaginative display of creativity, showcasing the incredible works of artist Nathan Sawaya. Located at the Boiler House on Brick Lane in London, this exhibition features over 150 unique LEGO sculptures that are sure to inspire visitors of all ages.
Entering the exhibition, you are greeted with a variety of themed galleries, each containing original works and recreations of iconic art pieces. One of the standout pieces is a life-sized T-rex skeleton, constructed from thousands of LEGO bricks, which leaves visitors in awe of the sheer scale and detail. Another highlight is the recreation of famous artworks like Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa and Michelangelo’s David, each meticulously crafted with LEGO bricks.
One of Sawaya’s most recognizable pieces is “Yellow,” created more than 10 years ago from 11,000 individual yellow bricks. It depicts a human figure ripping open its own chest, symbolizing Sawaya’s transition from the corporate world to the realm of art.
Nathan Sawaya’s personal story and motivations are woven throughout the exhibition, adding depth to the experience. His piece “Courage Within,” representing his transition from a lawyer to an artist, is particularly moving. The exhibition also includes interactive elements, such as a play area for children, making it a fun and educational outing for families.
Artistic Challenges and Innovations
Working with LEGO to produce art comes with several restrictions and challenges due to the nature of the material. For instance, the colour palette of LEGO bricks is limited, making it challenging for artists to achieve the exact shades or gradients they envision. Although LEGO has expanded its colour range over the years, it still doesn’t cover the full spectrum that traditional art materials might offer. This limitation is evident in Sawaya’s recreation of Gustav Klimt’s famous painting “The Kiss.” The original artwork is renowned for its use of gold, but the LEGO version had to be made using yellow bricks, highlighting the constraints of the LEGO palette.
The geometric constraints of LEGO bricks, which are primarily rectangular and angular, make it difficult to create smooth curves or detailed organic shapes. Artists must work within the confines of the blocky, pixelated aesthetic that LEGO inherently provides. The circles produced in some Sawaya pieces are quite remarkable.
Additionally, structural stability is a significant concern, as large LEGO structures need careful engineering to ensure they don’t collapse. Some pieces in the exhibition had to have their scale altered to prevent them from collapsing under their own weight, requiring regeneration to ensure structural integrity. This was the case with Sawaya’s version of “Nike Of Samothrace” for example. As Sawaya’ explains: “For the brick replica version, I decided to reduce the scale of the sculpture to one third of the original The great wings that extend horizontally from the body of the sculpture proved to be a difficult engineering task, and I feared that their weight would topple the sculpture if I built it at the same time as the original.”
Working with LEGO to produce art comes with several restrictions and challenges due to the nature of the material. For instance, the colour palette of LEGO bricks is limited, making it challenging for artists to achieve the exact shades or gradients they envision. Although LEGO has expanded its colour range over the years, it still doesn’t cover the full spectrum that traditional art materials might offer. This limitation is evident in Sawaya’s recreation of Gustav Klimt’s famous painting “The Kiss.” The original artwork is renowned for its use of gold, but the LEGO version had to be made using yellow bricks, highlighting the constraints of the LEGO palette.
Creating detailed artwork with LEGO often requires working on a large scale. Size and scale become a challenge as fine details can only be achieved with a high number of small bricks, making the artwork cumbersome and space-consuming. Procuring enough LEGO bricks in specific colours and sizes can also be expensive and time-consuming, limiting an artist’s ability to experiment freely or produce large works without significant investment. Sawaya’s dinosaur is all the more impressive for this.
The texture and surface of LEGO bricks, which are uniformly glossy, limit the tactile variation that can be achieved compared to other art materials like paint, clay, or fabric. Artists may find it challenging to add depth and tactile variation to their pieces. Furthermore, there are legality and copyright considerations when using LEGO for professional or commercial art. LEGO is a trademarked brand, and its products are protected by intellectual property laws, so artists must be careful about how they market and sell their LEGO art to avoid potential legal issues with the LEGO Group.
Assembly time is another significant constraint, as constructing detailed LEGO art can be very time-consuming. Each piece must be manually assembled, which can be a tedious process, especially for large or complex works.
Despite these restrictions, Sawaya has found creative ways to use LEGO bricks to produce impressive and innovative art pieces. The limitations can inspire unique approaches and problem-solving strategies, leading to distinctive and recognizable works of art.
The LEGO Legacy and Artistic Evolution
The LEGO Group, a privately held company based in Billund, Denmark, was founded in 1932 by Ole Kirk Kristiansen. The name ‘LEGO’ is an abbreviation of the two Danish words “leg” and “godt,” meaning “play well.” The brick in its present form was launched in 1958, with its interlocking principle offering unlimited building possibilities.
The “Art of the Brick” exhibition has meticulously assembled more than a million LEGO bricks into an immersive experience in east London. Famous artworks, including the Mona Lisa and Michelangelo’s David, have been reconstructed in LEGO, alongside a six-meter Tyrannosaurus Rex. Described as “the most elaborate display of LEGO art ever,” this touring show highlights Sawaya’s technical skill and creativity.
Dean West, an award-winning photographer, collaborated with Nathan Sawaya on the “Art of the Brick” exhibition, creating an innovative multimedia collection that combines LEGO sculptures with photography. This collaboration resulted in a series of striking images where LEGO art is seamlessly integrated into real-world scenes, blending the playful nature of LEGO with the sophistication of fine art photography.
Conclusion
Overall, “Art of the Brick” is a must-visit for LEGO enthusiasts and art lovers alike. It offers a unique perspective on what can be achieved with a simple toy, transforming it into a medium for artistic expression. Whether you’re marvelling at the intricate details of a sculpture or engaging in a guessing game about the number of bricks used, or just wondering how anyone could have so much patience in construction, this exhibition is sure to leave a lasting impression. The blend of artistic ingenuity and the nostalgic charm of LEGO makes this exhibition a memorable and inspiring experience for all.
Reviewed by Pat Harrington
You can buy tickets for “The Art of the Brick” exhibition in London through the official website here. Enjoy the amazing LEGO® art!
