Johannesburg - Imagine a world in which everything is made of Lego – from famous artworks and people to the Big Five and even emotions.
Brick by Lego brick, artist Nathan Sawaya has built just that.
The Art of the Brick is an exhibition showcasing Sawaya’s work in a way that brings “something totally different” for people to see.i
Marius Basson, chief executive of exhibition organisers Expo RSA, said there were 75 original works being showcased, worth an estimated R38 million.
“We want to bring something spectacular to Johannesburg because Lego is the world’s number one toy. It’s a major showcase for all ages.”
Some of the more emotive pieces are bound to be etched into the minds of visitors to the exhibition. These include My Boy, which while not directly inspired by the iconic Hector Pieterson image, bears a striking resemblance to it.
Enthusiasts may also appreciate the Lego reconstruction of the statue of David and re-creations of famous artworks from across the centuries.
Expo RSA production manager Charlton Reimers said Sawaya had always been fascinated by Lego.
Sawaya has become known as “The Master Builder” – a title used in the The Lego Movie – because of his Lego-building skills.
Reimers said a Lego creation could take between two weeks and three months to create.
She said Sawaya always created a piece at each exhibition inspired by its new location. For South Africa, he is in the process of building a Big Five totem that will also be on show.
At the end of the display there is an “activation zone”, where children and adults can build with Lego, play Lego PlayStation games and buy merchandise.
The exhibition runs from April 3 to August 2 at The Zone in Rosebank. Tickets can be bought at Computicket.
The Star