LEGO The Beatles
31198, LEGO Art
LEGO Art: When blocks become a work of art
3.7.2020
Translation: machine translated
If you can't see the floor at home because of all the plastic bricks, then you're a LEGO fan. Do you collect them and can't live without them? Then here's the kicker: LEGO is now also making art. And it costs money.
From 1 August, you will be able to buy new LEGO sets. These are not Technics, Creator or the Ultimate Collector Series. No, the block builders from the far north are moving into an area previously spared by the coloured bricks. For a long time, even die-hard LEGO fans were in the dark as to what might be behind the code name "LEGO Zebra". Now the Danes have let the cat out of the bag, surprised everyone and presented the new LEGO Art: Works of art made from teeny-tiny LEGO studs.
The Beatles, Marilyn Monroe, Star Wars and Iron Man
LEGO is launching a total of four new sets. The Beatles set contains 2933 pieces and offers a total of four motifs. You can recreate the portrait of John Lennon, George Harrison, Ringo Starr or Paul McCartney - using really small, round 1×1 LEGO bricks. The catch: if you want all four Beatles next to each other on your wall, you have to buy the set four times. That's cool for LEGO, but at 140 francs per set, it's also pretty expensive fun.
Friends of modern art will get their money's worth in the second set - pun intended. You can assemble Andy Warhol's Marilyn Monroe from a total of 3341 pieces. Unlike the Beatles quartet, the beautiful Marilyn is unique, but can be created in four different colours. You can also painstakingly assemble this pop art picture from the smallest possible LEGO pieces. Here, too, you need four sets if you want all four coloured Monroes on the wall.
LEGO has also thought of all Star Wars fans: the third set lets you build three Siths. With 3406 pieces, it is the most extensive of the four new sets. You can choose between Darth Maul, Kylo Ren or Darth Vader, who will look you grimly in the eye as you walk past and marvel at the art. This set only offers three motifs, but can be assembled with two other identical sets to create a new large XXL work of art. Then the fearsome Darth Vader shines in full size with his laser sword.
Last but not least, Iron Man also makes his appearance on the LEGO Art stage. The fourth set consists of 3167 bricks and lets you build Iron Man MK III, Iron Man MK LXXXV and the Hulkbuster. You can also combine this set with two other identical sets to create a giant Iron Man with an outstretched arm - compared to the vertical Darth Vader, the Tin Man is horizontal.
LEGO art: soundtracks and new parts included
LEGO wouldn't be LEGO if that were all there was to it. While assembling the 40×40 centimetre pictures, you can listen to a podcast that provides you with interesting facts and figures about the respective set. The whole thing is called "Audio Building" - will the Beatles include some of their songs and will you be able to hum along to the theme tune for Star Wars?
For all LEGO aficionados and brick experts, there are some new parts included. For example, new LEGO Technics frame elements form the basis for the pictures. Thanks to this construction, you can also easily hang the pictures on the wall. The colour palette of the existing 1×1 round bricks (studs) and tiles has been expanded by seven colours for these sets. A win-win situation: not only do you get to see new tiles, you can also create your own mosaics with your existing tiles. Also included is the mother of all piece separators. Made to fulfil one task, namely to remove eight round tiles at once. This tool is particularly vital for the new sets: Imagine having to remove 48×48 pieces - that's a total of 2304.
Whether you're looking forward to the monotonous assembly of countless uniform bricks or special art on your wall: the LEGO Art sets are a must-have for fans of the colourful bricks. After all, what could be nicer than looking at a smiling Marilyn Monroe made of LEGO with aching fingertips after hours of precision work? That's right, looking at four smiling Marilyn Monroes. <p
Header image: Whether complete compartmentalization and tunnel vision will do any good with so many tiny particles? Image source: LEGO
Raphael Knecht
Senior Editor
raphael.knecht@digitecgalaxus.chWhen I'm not stuffing my face with sweets, you'll catch me running around in the gym hall. I’m a passionate floorball player and coach. On rainy days, I tinker with my homebuilt PCs, robots or other gadgets. Music is always my trusted companion. I also enjoy tackling hilly terrain on my road bike and criss-crossing the country on my cross-country skis.