Following its success in over 100 cities around the world, the Art of the Brick exhibition is currently residing in East London – rather ironically on the famed Brick Lane. The 150+ LEGO® artworks displayed are the brainchild of corporate lawyer-turned-artist Nathan Sawaya, all created in his studio over in the US.
While some pieces in the exhibition are fun sculptures or recreations of famous artworks, many are also thought-provoking comments on Nathan’s life (like ‘Courage Within’, set in the Human Condition room; image below). Given the exhibition’s popularity here in the UK, I felt it was high time to sit down with Nathan, and find out his inspirations, his favourite commissions, and generally, the motivations behind his love of LEGO® .
First things first, why do you love LEGO® so much?!
I love LEGO® for various reasons: the look of it, the distinct lines, how you see the sharp corners on my sculptures, but then you back away and they blend into curves. It’s the magic of LEGO® bricks.
Tell us about your childhood relationship with LEGO®.
I had LEGO® bricks as a kid; I got my first set when I was five years old. It would be later in life, though, that I rediscovered it as an artistic medium.
Why did you create the Art of the Brick exhibition?
Well, the Art of the Brick, it’s a collection of works that spans my whole career. And, so… it is really to inspire. I think as an artist, I should inspire.
What is your favourite piece you’ve ever created?
It’s hard to pick a favourite piece. I mean, they’re like my kids, how can you pick your favourite child?! My favourite thing is what I’m working on next. What’s going on in my studio is what all my focus is on and where all my energy is. That’s my favourite piece.
Which piece took the longest to build?
The piece that took the longest to create is actually standing behind me [as we speak]: the tyrannosaurus rex skeleton. I spent three months working on it. There are 80,000 bricks in this piece. It got very tedious at times, as I was working on the ribs and the back of the tail. This definitely is the most bricks.
If you could build any London landmark, which would it be?
If I could build any London landmark out of LEGO®…hmmm… You know, I don’t focus on architecture a lot, so it would have to be something that has curves. I love curves. It might have to be the [London] Eye. Yeah, that might be the one.
And, finally, what’s your favourite city in which Art of the Brick has appeared?
London really is my favourite city to visit. The last time that Art of the Brick was in London was in 2014, so I’m very excited to see what folks think of the Art of the Brick now.
You heard Nathan Sawaya – nab tickets to Art of the Brick to check it out for yourself.