More LEGO Fun with Sawaya’s The Art of the Brick: DC Super Heroes Exhibition

Jessica Clot, BURSTOUT CONTRIBUTOR

English and Drama Graduate from Queen Mary.

Full Bio

Jessica is a graduate from Queen Mary, University of London. She has a passion for theatre and drama, and often wrote for CUB magazine, the university's official arts and culture magazine.

Superheroes vs Villains, Good vs Evil and a room full of colour, who could ask for more?

Following the continued worldwide success of the Art of the Brick exhibitions which has been running since 2007, the world’s largest Lego museum exhibition returned to London at the South Bank, from 1 March 2017 to early September 2017.

Using LEGO bricks as the central art medium, Nathan Sawaya is the brains and brick artist creator of this contemporary art exhibition. Each sculpture is made brick by brick, and according to his artwork labels, involved him eating many burritos in the process. The light-hearted humour is consistent with his child-like, playful theme.

Despite being one of the oldest people in the exhibit, and not having the excuse of being a parent to a small child, I found the exhibit to be extremely entertaining. In a well-structured, almost pop-up tent marquee, the exhibit guides people by weaving them in and out of different superhero sections. The art placards however, were utterly difficult to read, being oddly placed in areas with little to no light. I found myself bending down, all the way to the ground, to read some descriptions. Not ideal for the elderly!

Nevertheless, what was so fantastic about the LEGO sculptures, was that it combined art with characters which adults and children alike have come to love over the years. The classic figures of Batman and Superman are recognised by almost everyone and the sculptures can be appreciated as artwork in themselves. With clever manipulation of the bricks, Sawaya even creates the illusion that The Flash is running super-fast.

(The Flash by Nathan Sawaya, Photo by Jessica Clot)

Another inventive sculpture was Superman staring at his own reflection in a mirror. He looks as if he is facing his demons; he does not fit in with humanity. His feelings of isolation on earth, reflected in the loss of his birth planet which has been destroyed. The blurring of metaphorical light and darkness, is more thought-provoking than it first appears.

(Superman’s Reflection by Nathan Sawaya, Photo by Jessica Clot)

Sawaya also achieved layering another dimension to the visitors’ experience, by subtly informing them about comic history through visual works of old comic covers and older characters, all constructed from LEGO. Some of the lesser known superheroes and villains were also exhibited, both through LEGO figure videos and sculptures.

The only time I had heard of the superhero Aquaman was on the E4 comedy series The Big Bang Theory. One of the main characters Raj was disappointed that he had to dress up as Aquaman for the superhero costume contest, whilst the others were dressed as Batman, Superman, The Green Lantern, The Flash and Wonder Woman. No one wants to be Aquaman, poor guy! On this occasion however, this DC Super Hero was not neglected as there were numerous Aquaman sculptures, with explanations as to his superhero abilities which include control over sea life and the ability to breathe underwater.

Finally, the highlight is in reaching the end and being released into child heaven; the exhibition becomes a playground. With buckets full of LEGO for you to make your own creations, Sawaya has not only demonstrated his own creative imagination but encouraged it in others.

So, who could have asked for more?

Check out more on The Art of the Brick: DC official website