LEGO Sungnyemun - A Word from the Artist; Artists Vision: Sungnyemun

AsanArchite c turalAr tis t myd e sireistoc apturetheessence
ofaparticulararchitecturallandmarkintoitspuresculptural
formIfi rstandforemostdonotviewmymodelsasliteral
replicasbutrathermyownartisticinterpretationsthrough
theuseofLEGO
®
bricksasamediumTheLEGObrickis
notinitiallythoughtofasamaterialtypicallyusedincreating
artorusedasanartist’smediumIquicklydiscoveredthe
LEGObrickwaslendingitselfasnaturallytomyapplications
aspainttoapainterormetaltoablacksmithAsIexplore
howtocapturethesebuildingswiththebasicshapesofthe
bricksandplatesIfi ndthepossibilitiesandchallengesthey
off eralmostmagical
-Sungnyemun
In general architecture itself encompasses a broad
spectrum of subject matter In this case Sungnyemun
survivesasasymboliciconorhistoricmarkerofalostplace
intimeCapturingtheessenceofthistypeofstructurerelies
moreonthestatementofitsaestheticsratherthanitsplace
asamarvelofconstructionandengineering
Specifi cally, it is the use of color, textures, patterns, and
hierarchy of materials that defi ne the spiritual DNA of a given
culture. Visually, Sungnyemun is comprised of two main
features. These can be simply identifi ed as the massive
stone base anchored beneath the refi ned artisan expression
layered above.Thisbaserepresentsstrengthandlongevity
while the tiered structure above indicates craft skill
traditionandcollectivelyservesasabeaconofprideThe
cold, rough and neutral colored stone base contrasts sharply
from the colorful and delicate wood detailed terraces resting
so eloquently as if almost fl oating above the stone base.
AdamReedTucker
AWordfromtheArtist
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21016.indd 80 24/02/2012 5:22 PM