Bricktionary, the travelling interactive Lego exhibition, has just unveiled its latest figures in the Theatre of Light at Dublin’s Point Village, featuring uncannily lifelike faces intricately crafted from Lego, the globally beloved building toy. Although shaped from blocky plastic bricks, these figures, including Super Mario in his car and Mr Bean strapped to the roof of his mini, astonishingly capture the nuances of their actual characters.
The public, particularly in the UK, may not be overly aware of Ryan McNaught, otherwise known as the Brickman, yet in his native Australia, he is a prominent figure, notably due to his role as a judge on Lego Masters Australia. Being part of an exclusive circle of “Lego certified professionals” trusted by the Danish giant, McNaught has constructed an array of Lego-themed exhibitions that are showcased globally. Although not officially recognised by Lego, McNaught has been awarded their seal of approval. As of now, there are about 10 distinct Brickman exhibitions of varying scales, such as Jurassic World, Cities, and Wonders of the World, globally accessible.
This newest exhibition, based on McNaught’s publication, The Bricktionary: The Ultimate Lego A-Z, marks its European launch in Dublin this weekend. Simon Challenor, the exhibitions head, gave The Irish Times exclusive access to the venue, whilst it was in the final stages of assembly. Challenor, who spends most of his time travelling between international locations setting up and overseeing Brickman exhibitions, is based in Brisbane.
The expansive area is divided into numerous zones, each loosely following the letters of the alphabet. The letter ‘A’ signifies Avengers and Airship. ‘B’ represents Bionicles, which are substantial constructions fabricated from tiny Lego transformer spheres, and Buildings, including a rising Shanghai Tower. ‘C’ stands for Costumes, and showcases a lustrous black attire crafted entirely from helicopter blades, displayed on a mannequin. ‘D’ denotes Diorama, showcasing various imaginative scenes, such as the Bates Motel and alien koalas, crafted by roughly 30 Melbourne-based builders under McNaught’s guidance. Challoner, a Lego builder, asserts the Lego construction principle is to “just build what you want to build, don’t go by any pictures just build”.
‘E’ signifies Eagle and Earthquake. The setup constitutes a mix of smaller intricate items and larger models, some of which invite touch, all exhibited in clear Perspex containers. Information boards along the way impart information about the construction, challenges, approaches, and nuggets of knowledge about the world of Lego, including ‘I’ for Illegal – indicating Lego’s disapproval of brick usage that may stress the components.
Prominent among the larger models are a high-detail space shuttle approximately two metres in height and a bird-filled tree which, weighing 600kg, includes a vast horizontal leaf mass along with various branches on a slim trunk, is one of the more complex structures to assemble. ‘K’ is for Keyboard, which features a life-size, red replica so authentic it gives the impression one could play it, ‘P’ stands for pop art and ‘R’ for Robot, including a fantastic mech.
Four of the zones feature interactive components, providing an engaging build experience for visitors. Open counters scattered with miscellaneous pieces present a challenge – in the Earthquake area, [visitors are] invited to construct robust structures capable of withstanding the vibrations from a shaking platform. Wall exhibits propose methods to strengthen the build.
“M” stands for Minifigure, but it’s also representative of the Mosaic: an engaging platform where guests can create their own tiny mosaic tiles, following the instructions on-screen. These tiles are then added to a large board, serving as the canvas for a colossal, pre-determined tableau. The tableau is comprised of a staggering 3,200 of these mosaic tiles, each made from 36 individual 1×1 pieces; the minuscule Lego blocks that invariably end up lost in the sofa. With approximately 115,200 1x1s used, it takes roughly three weeks to assemble the mosaic. You can follow the progress of the mosaic’s creation online before the process begins anew.
The exhibition also features two additional interactive segments. One involves constructing a bird or beast to add to a tree or the “grass” encircling it. The other offers visitors the chance to build a robot.
Challoner offers some insights into the scale of the exhibition. “The sheer magnitude of building required for this installation equates to one person working full time for an entire year, approximately 6,000 hours. We’ve employed about a million bricks in the creations, and an additional half a million are available for visitors to play with.”
Challoner cites the Animal figure as an example of the effort involved: standing at roughly 50cm tall, likely comprising about 8,000 pieces, and requiring 70 to 80 hours to build. Intricate designs like Animal’s wild hair are particularly demanding to plan; such models sometimes require more time to build than even larger designs with simpler constructions.
Preparing this exhibition for travel requires detailed planning. The larger Lego models are broken into manageable sections for transportation, then built at the exhibition site by the team. Once the models are fully assembled, the bricks are glued together to maintain their shape, with the exception of segments that need to be disassembled for transportation.
Despite diligent efforts, each week a number of Lego pieces (usually from the interactive areas) are lost. “We typically see about one lost brick per visitor, and we consider that a success,” Challoner reveals. Replenishment comes from their extensive on-site storage, which, according to Challoner, consists of “buckets and buckets” of spare bricks.
Each Bricktionary exhibition worldwide follows the same design, but each venue showcases different Lego models and displays. The exhibition is set to stay in Dublin for approximately six months. Its whimsical alphabetical theme is rife with delightful variation, and the meticulous detail of the exhibits, whether faithfully replicated objects or imaginative inventions, is sure to impress.
The event coordinators anticipate a large turnout of families with youngsters, as well as adults who are fans of Lego—and they are numerous. Visitors could easily indulge themselves for around an hour and a half, which includes the time spent crafting with the Lego blocks in the participatory sections, though there’s plenty to immerse oneself in for a longer duration.
Bricktionary, an immersive Lego exhibition, will open its doors on Sunday, March 10th, located at the Theatre of Light in Dublin’s Point Village. Ticket pricing operates on a dynamic scale, fluctuating depending on the day and time. Prices start at €15 per adult, €12 per child, and €45 for an entire family, all subject to additional charges. Expert Lego builder Ryan McNaught will be conducting in-person masterclasses on the following Monday and Tuesday.
Don’t forget to tune into our Inside Politics Podcast for updated discussions and analysis. Register for push notifications to receive the most pertinent news, examinations, and commentary straight to your mobile. Locate The Irish Times on WhatsApp to stay updated.