{"id":395,"date":"2013-03-19T14:33:00","date_gmt":"2013-03-19T06:33:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/2013\/03\/19\/falling-in-love-with-the-art-of-the-brick\/"},"modified":"2014-10-03T18:19:51","modified_gmt":"2014-10-03T10:19:51","slug":"falling-in-love-with-the-art-of-the-brick","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/2013\/03\/falling-in-love-with-the-art-of-the-brick\/","title":{"rendered":"Falling in love with The Art of the Brick!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
The beautiful ArtScience Museum<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

The hubs had been wanting to bring Dana and I to this exhibition since beginning of the year but the non-museum rat in me kept procrastinating it. Last Friday, he had the rare afternoon off and insisted on bringing us to ArtScience Museum before it ends its run. Not wanting to dampen anyone’s spirits, I tagged along only to be a happy convert at the end. Here’s why.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
We are finally here!<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

At the entrance, we were given a brief background of the man behind these creations. It tells of how Nathan Sawaya, a New York-based artist finds his creative outlet through humble lego bricks and how he abandoned his high-flying attorney job to pursue his passion of being a Lego Artist.  How many of us mere mortals have such courage to pursue our dreams?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
A brief introduction how this exhibit came about…<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

As we made our way through the galleries, we can’t help but marvel at these awe-inspiring, intricate Lego sculptures. Dana helpfully read aloud the number of bricks used for each sculpture and I was happy she gets to practise the Math concept of place values even in an Art exhibition.  Great unintentional authentic learning taking place here!  Many of these sculptures are mind-boggling good, like this one – the famous piece entitled ‘Yellow’ used widely in The Art of the Brick’s publicity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
The sculpture which is widely publicised on this tour – Yellow<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

The variety of Sawaya\u2019s sculptures and installations range from humorous to emotional, from abstract to straight forward simple. Whatever you fancy, there is bound to be something that speaks to you. Such is his creative prowess of being unbound by conventions – using something so innocently simple and predictably shaped, to explore his own emotions, struggles, thoughts and experiences. As a result, audience are blown away, not only by his creativity but by his boldness to step beyond the boundaries of the obvious.  This, incidentally, is also an image of his life\u2019s philosophy – an attorney who felt the call of his inner-self (a higher call) to be an Artist\u2026to fulfill his destiny out of Lego bricks. Crazy? Yes; but totally inspirational.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
Swimmer – whoever thought that bricks can swim…<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
Dew drops – we may be square (bricks) but together, we are well-rounded…<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
<\/div>\n

This exhibit appeals to all at so many levels.  <\/span>To a child, it stretches the playful imagination. To adults, it explores emotions, experiences, time and space. <\/o:p><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
Dana hands on with creating her own brick sculpture<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
Write and Sing…esp when you’re feeling blue…<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
“Why you so blue,<\/span> Blue?”<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
Open Heart – made from hundreds of recycled Lego bricks: just because some things are better old…<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
<\/div>\n
 <\/span><\/span><\/span>
The one aspect of this exhibition which spoke<\/span><\/span><\/span> particularly <\/span><\/span><\/span>to Daddy was that Lego originally started out as a series of rectangular bricks which challenged children to stretch their imagination in creating whatever they can imagine. <\/span>These days, Lego sets come with predetermined pictures of what the end products should look like. <\/span>Which, to him, is sad, as it limits the kids’ imagination to a 2 dimensional picture on the box. <\/span>Here, Sawaya\u2019s exhibition revisits the original intent of Lego itself \u2013 exploring, imagining and experiencing the possibilities of our creativity\u2026one brick at a time.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
Circle Triangle Square: Aren’t we all the same?<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
<\/div>\n

As for me? I fell in love with the narratives that accompanied each of Sawaya’s Lego sculptures.  Take your time to read the inspiration and reflection behind his creations to fully appreciate that which is just more than merely Art \u2013 they are pensive, poetic and philosophical. Take for example, this piece entitled ‘Disintegration’ bears the message to ‘beware the winds of life that nibble away your sense of self’… how true isn’t it?
<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
Disintegration…<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
This sculpture spoke volumes to me too. Entitled ‘Everlasting’, it reads ‘Love lives forever, it outlives youth and a flat stomach and a full head of hair. And that’s what makes it beautiful’…Would we be able to experience such love? Only time will tell…<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Everlasting…<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n

The ‘Emotions’ room display sculptures that evoke deeper thoughts on the human experience. Dana found the room too dark and ‘scary’ but Daddy and I loved it. <\/div>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
Step into the complex world of human ‘Emotions’…<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
Ascension – Going beyond life, heavenwards.<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
Masks – Do we know who are we truly?<\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
The man behind the mask…<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/p>\n

The final surprise awaits us at the end of the exhibition – A huge 20-foot wonder in the form of a T-Rex Skeleton! Unveiled for the very first time worldwide in Singapore, with a room to call its own, complete with amazing strobe lighting and sound effects – Impressive!<\/p>\n
\ufeff\ufeff<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
A T-Rex skeleton made entirely out of Lego Bricks..<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
Simply Breathtaking!<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

<\/p>\n

Dana kept herself happily entertained with shadow play dinosaurs while Mommy and Daddy marvel at T-Rex. If you visit during the weekends, kids can participate in greater range of interactive activities. <\/div>\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
Another activity to stimulate the kids’ imagination…<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Having fun with shadow play…<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Walk like an Egyptian…<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Nathan Sawaya was so inspired by the ArtScience Museum that he had to recreate one…with his bricks. It looks so awesome!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
Dana admiring the Lego ArtScience museum.<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
Talking about architectural wonders…who can forget the original Parthenon… <\/span>…fully recreated with Lego.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Inside the exhibition, one can create a Lego lookalike portrait. Not bad actually.<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
 Dana… in Lego form <\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

The Art of the Brick exhibition at the ArtScience Museum is Nathan Sawaya’s largest to date. It has been an awe-inspiring and most enjoyable visit for us. I am full of respect for this Master Lego Artist.  At the time of writing this post, I just found out that the exhibition has been extended to 26 May 2013 (Yeah!). If you’ve not gone to see it, you MUST.  Read more about this exhibition here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
The Art of the Brick Admission Tickets<\/i><\/b><\/span>:<\/b><\/p>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
You may purchase tickets from the Marina Bay Sands Box Office or Sistic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
Date:<\/b>  <\/td>\n 17 November 2012 – 26 May 2013 <\/span>
 <\/span>10am to 10pm (Last admission at 9.00pm)<\/span> <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Venue<\/b>:<\/td>\n ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Price:<\/b> <\/td>\n (Exclude booking fees)
<\/span>Child (2-12 years) – S$8.00; <\/span> Adult – S$14.00
Senior Citizen (65 yrs & above) – S$13.00<\/span>
<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

Free self-parking if you visit on Mondays-Thursdays (10am to 4pm) with every S$20 nett or more spent at the ArtScience Museum.  For information on the complimentary ‘Playing with Patterns’ and ‘Stop Motion’ workshops for kids, check out MBS’ website<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Here’s me signing off…<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

P.S. I forgot to add that no flash photography is allowed inside the exhibition but Daddy<\/span> never fails to amaze me with his photography skills! <\/span><\/div>\n

<\/p>

41.4359783<\/span>-79.7091098<\/span><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The beautiful ArtScience Museum The hubs had been wanting to bring Dana and I to this exhibition since beginning of the year but the non-museum rat in me kept procrastinating it. Last Friday, he had the rare afternoon off and insisted on bringing us to ArtScience Museum before it ends its run. Not wanting to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[71,13,15],"tags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p59hHF-6n","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/395"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=395"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/395\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=395"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=395"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lifestinymiracles.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=395"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}