Subject:
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what I'm going for (was Re: The Sultan is Back)
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Newsgroups:
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lugnet.build
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Date:
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Fri, 5 Mar 2004 16:53:47 GMT
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Highlighted:
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(details)
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1305 times
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Felix, I see this as you intend it, and think it is very powerful. This is
something, along with the ‘Guy going through’ sculpture for Houston that i
feel transcends to the level of true Art - that is, using LEGO as a medium
for self-expression, and connection with humanity. I’d love to see an
entire series of these, and to see them at an art show proper.
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I’m with Lenny on this one, It’s art, and moreover, it’s better art (coming
from someone that understands the medium) than some of the stuff from “real”
artists, at least some of who, in my view, are using the medium purely for
stunt value.
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Thanks Lenny and Larry. I don’t think a higher compliment can be paid than to
have someone “get” what you’re trying to do and appreciate it.
I got an email and some AIM questions so I thought I’d post some more info about
the sculptures.
First off, the sculptures are as minimalistic as I could make them. For
example, the detail that went into
the submarine was done a
lot differently than the minimal, simple smoothness of
Check Yourself. While
to many of you experienced builders out there, you might look at these
sculptures and think “That’s so simple. Anyone can do that.”-- I totally agree.
They’re not meant to be something people will look at and think what a modelling
master-piece has been created. They were made to capture simple emotion. So,
like John Neal’s Dozen LEGO
Roses, a feeling is frozen in time.
The color is also planned as simply as I could. For
Living Together,
there’s a simple cartoony goofiness about it. Red and green oppose one another
to the eye, just as my wife and I are quite opposite in many ways. It doesn’t
take an art degree to see why the figure is blue in
Check Yourself. LEGO
colors offer a hue that you just don’t see in real life, and thats just one more
reason why I love’em so much.
As a space builder, I’ve learned a lot
about SNOT. I think too
often people confuse SNOT with Greeble and
confine it to a “space” thing. But, IMO, a good SNOT technique allows one to
move away from the boxiness that LEGO elements lend themselves to. So, one of
the things I’ll be going for in the future is to incorporate these things in
ways that look seemless
to the eye.
I’m a big fan of smooth,
unbroken straight lines aesthetically. I tried my hand at sculpting with clay
at one time, but got frustrated that I couldn’t make unflawed lines and sharp
angles. So you can imagine how LEGO pieces really lend themselves to my tastes.
“Art”, as I understand it, is the unique expression of an idea, feeling, or
concept. In this respect, what is good or bad is in the opinion of the
observer. I consider this an art sculpture and
this a toy. One
obviously took more time and effort than the other. But as art, one is trying
to convey something and one is not. This, of course, is just my opinion. I’m
sure many of you define art in a very different way.
The Ultimate LEGO Book has some pictures of commissioned artwork by various
artists. I’ve poured over those pictures for hours at a time wondering how I
could express myself in such a beautiful way. This is the medium I grew up
with, I’m familiar with it, and all of you continue to show me how I can use it
in new ways.
So, this is the new direction I’m going in and some of the thinking behind it.
I’m not claiming I’ll ever be a Brendan Powell
Smith and have an enormous impact or anything. I just want to express myself
in my own way.
Felix
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Message is in Reply To:
 | | Re: The Sultan is Back
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| (...) I'm with Lenny on this one, It's art, and moreover, it's better art (coming from someone that understands the medium) than some of the stuff from "real" artists, at least some of who, in my view, are using the medium purely for stunt value. (...) (21 years ago, 4-Mar-04, to lugnet.build, lugnet.aquazone, FTX)
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