Living in Sydney and being in a major capital of the world has it’s advantages. It’s a world away from the small country down where I grow up that’s for sure. Big city living has it’s advantages that’s for sure. Most artists and acts tour here, you get midnight screenings of movies (when they actually come out) and the number of pop up shops and world class exhibitions of all sorts visit your town.
If you were to go do and see every single cool, artsy of happening event that popped up in this city, you’d be left with likely little time or money as the opportunities are endless. While this isn’t me rubbing the cool factor in my country families and friends face , it’s more that there is a reason we chose to live here and it’s because there is always stuff to see and do!
The last time I went to the Powerhouse Museum was to see the Harry Potter Exhibition (probably about 4 years ago now). Now before you rip on me for being a Potterhead I had my younger brother with me (so I could justify the going) AND Harry, Hermione, Ron and Co are cool OK. If I had a wand and could do magic, shit would be quite different. The coolest thing about this Museum is that among the permanent exhibitions they often have really cool curated guest exhibits.
We’d heard the Art of Brick – DC Comics exhibition was coming and were all “Yes, we have to go”. We oftensay we’re going to go to stuff, then get busy or slack and forget. Given that it was someone’s special birthday, and he was a mad comic fan it was a must that tickets be purchased. My memories of LEGO were pretty distant. I remember having it as a kid, stepping on it (which hurt like a SOB) and that whenever my younger siblings asked me for it for Christmas, I refused and bought them books instead (that shit is expensive).
Not much of a comic book fan, I was not quite sure what to expect. I thought it would be “cool” and I was pleased on a hot day that at least the place was air-conditioned and dark, The vampire in me happy was pleased for the viewing conditions. There were people of all ages in attendance, and you could see regardless of age, there was a glint of excitement in almost all the men/ boys eye’s there (Yes, I know chicks dig comic books too, but there were not many groupies at the session I attended).
For someone with low vision I was lucky I had my seeing eye Timmy to accompany me. Last thing I wanted (or needed) was to trip over a small child or smash a lego figurine that likely cost more than my life earnings. At the beginning of the tour everyone was ushered in to view a short introductory video and message from the creator of the display Nathan Sawaya .
This friendly smiley guy on screen was that moment the envy of everyone in the room. Dude got to build cool things and create everything out of LEGO. What a job. His passion and enthusiasm were evident, he also had a really cool message too. That regardless of age, LEGO and comics brought people of different backgrounds and ages an opportunity to be creative, use your imagination and channel your inner child. Something we often don’t do enough of and really ought too.
Nathan Sawaya is an award-winning artist who creates awe-inspiring works of art out of some of the most unlikely things. His global touring exhibitions, THE ART OF THE BRICK, feature large-scale sculptures using only toy building blocks: LEGO® bricks to be exact. His work is obsessively and painstakingly crafted and is both beautiful and playful.
Previously a NYC corporate lawyer, Sawaya is the first artist to ever take LEGO into the art world and is the author of two best selling books. His unique exhibition is the first of its kind to focus exclusively on LEGO as an art medium and has broken attendance records around the globe. The creations, constructed from countless individual LEGO pieces, were built from standard bricks beginning as early as 2002.
Sawaya is the recipient of numerous awards and honors, recognizing his artwork and cultural achievements. In 2014, with the belief that “art is not optional,” Sawaya founded The Art Revolution Foundation for the purpose of making art a priority in our schools and our homes. He has been a speaker at Google Zeitgeist, TEDx, Yahoo! and at the Clinton Library.
Nathan Sawaya has earned a top position in the world of contemporary art and has created a new dimension by merging Pop Art and Surrealism in awe inspiring and ground breaking ways. His art consists of playing with the material, color, movement, light and perspective. Not a bad career change right?
The more you focus and practice something the better you become at the new skill that you are learning or an obstacle you are trying to overcome. By doing this new neural connections are created in the brain as synapses that don’t usually fire together do, which help us to sharpen our new skill. You can read more about Neuroplasticity here. Using your brain to learn new skills or undertake new challenges is proven to assist in the prevention of dementia and seriously keep learning!
The exhibition was ridiculously good and I was amazed at the scale, the detail and also the creativity (and likely man hours put into creating these items) – all from Lego. There were a few “WOW” moments in there from both myself and also seeing the big and little’s faces when they were met with seeing these was pretty cool.
If you’ve an opportunity to go and see this, it will be the best $26 you will spend. Here are just a few of the works which were featured on the day. To appreciate them all though just think how long some of these would have taken to make and the patience you’d need to complete them.
You can see The Art of Brick – DC Comics at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney on display until May 1st. Tickets are available online here