Building a Dream: Meet the Elite Korean Lego Artists Defying the Odds
Interview with Kim Seung-yu, LEGO certified author
Superpowers campaign that changes everyday life
Exhibition of traditional animal works from Korean fairy tales
[여행人터뷰] 👷 Was it all made with Legos? 🧱 Meet Kim Seung-yu, a certified Lego artist!
Creativity is not something that comes and goes. It’s not even something you’re born with.
The ability to dive into an environment where something new is created without hesitation is creativity. LEGOs are the best tool to develop this ability.
Kim Seung-yu, LEGO certified author
Writer Kim Seung-yu / Photo = Travel Cho Hyeong-ju + PD
When you open the study door, a feast of colorful Lego bricks opens up. From ceiling to floor, the entire studio appears to be part of a huge Lego set. The works that fill the walls tell their stories. A magical space where imagination becomes reality, this is the hideout of certified Lego artist Kim Seung-yu.
enlarge the photo Studio / photo by artist Seungyu Kim = Reporter Hyojeong Kwon
Artist Kim’s eyes shine as he says, “When building Lego, the desire to create something useful for the world naturally arose.” The boy’s emotions are still vivid on his face. “Lego is a world of infinite possibilities. It’s not something you do once and then it’s over; you can destroy it and redo it. This is the “superpower” of Lego.”
enlarge the photo Studio / photo by artist Seungyu Kim = Reporter Hyojeong Kwon
Lego recently launched the “The game that changes everyday life, this is our superpower” campaign. It is part of a global project called “Rebuild The World”, a campaign to encourage creative play among children and families around the world. Author Kim Seung-yu is the representative Korean face of this campaign.
enlarge the photo The LEGOs that writer Kim Seung-yu’s mother kept in the warehouse / Photo = Reporter Kwon Hyo-jeong
Author Kim’s relationship with Lego began with a birthday present he received in kindergarten. It was expensive, so I couldn’t buy it often, but thanks to it my creativity developed. I’ve developed a habit of constantly creating new things with a set. It was his mother who gave him the opportunity to reconnect with Lego once he became an adult.
Author Kim said: “My mother kept Legos in the storage room with the intention of passing them on to her grandchildren. I found it by chance while organizing the storage room and assembling it, I fell in love with it all over again.”
This experience led him to major in industrial design in college, work as a furniture designer, and now become a certified LEGO artist, one of only 23 people in the world. There are only two in Korea.
enlarge the photo Part of Vivid Dream / Photo = Reporter Kwon Hyo-jeong
Since childhood, when asked what his future aspirations were, he answered “creation”. The child responds with a verb rather than a noun, demonstrating extraordinary creativity.
“Actually, I didn’t target a specific job. I ended up here because I liked playing with Legos. In the process, I naturally acquired important life skills such as creativity, persistence, and problem-solving skills.
Artist Kim’s masterpiece “Vivid Dream” attracts attention. A coastal city and a theme park come together. It is a miniature world where reality and fantasy coexist, from the real building, the Spasskaya Tower in Moscow, Russia, to the fictional “Seungyu House”.
“Vivid Dream is my first participation in the exhibition. The buildings originally built separately were brought together and reborn as a diorama (scale model). “It’s nice to express the things that exist in the world, but it’s also fun to imagine what I wish really existed.”
enlarge the photo Artist Seungyoo Kim at work / Photo = Reporter Hyojeong Kwon
Artist Kim presents his works under the working name “Bant”. His brilliant track record, including winning MBC’s “Blockbuster” in 2022 and placing second in People’s Choice in “Brick Korea” in 2019, demonstrates his abilities. The value that LEGO pursues is to constantly challenge and create a new world without fear of failure. I’m sure I’ve overcome my fear of creation. This is also the philosophy of the Lego creative studio “Brick Lab” of which he is CEO.
Author Kim says Legos can be a great stress relief tool for adults. “When you focus on assembling Legos, all other thoughts disappear. Immerse yourself completely in the present. “It’s like practicing mindfulness.”
Author Kim’s creative process is unique. There are many ways to get inspiration from travel destinations. “When I go on a business trip or travel, I put a Lego piece in my pocket. I go around and pick up parts here and there. In the sky, in buildings, in cars. At a certain point, when I find the right form, I sketch out the idea on the spot. “The work ‘Snow’ was created when the picture in a book I accidentally saw in Jijihyang, Paju and Lego parts matched perfectly.”
enlarge the photo Participating works in the LEGO Korea campaign / Photo = Reporter Kwon Hyo-jeong
The works participating in the LEGO Korea campaign are also impressive. A modern reinterpretation of traditional Korean fairy tale animals.
“I wanted to express Lego, which is embedded in our culture. A lucky bag was placed on the turtle’s back and a hat was placed on the tiger. The rabbit is grinding Lego bricks instead of a rice cake mill. The chicken was depicted walking down the street at night with a lantern in its mouth.
enlarge the photo Participating works in the LEGO Korea campaign / Photo = Reporter Kwon Hyo-jeong
Author Kim also has unique thoughts on the educational value of Legos. “Unfortunately in Korea we tend to think of gaming as the opposite of studying. But real learning begins with play. Curiosity, challenging spirit and creativity all come from play. “It would be great to introduce programs that naturally incorporate play into educational contexts.”
enlarge the photo Work by artist Seungyu Kim / Photo = Reporter Hyojeong Kwon
Lego is a healing tool and a medium for artistic creation. Author Kim’s advice is simple but powerful. If you want to heal with Legos, follow the instructions, but if you want to create a work of art, throw away the instructions. Seungyu Kim’s dream is a “house made of Lego”. He said he wants to create a space filled with Legos, everything from furniture to props.
enlarge the photo Author Kim Seung-yu explains Lego bricks / Photo = Reporter Kwon Hyo-jeong
Author Kim’s inbox is full of questions from aspiring Lego designers. “Seriousness makes art”, is his response. He emphasizes that the key to creation is “seriousness”. Art is finally created when you go beyond just stacking bricks and project your emotions and situations into your work. He said firmly: “Don’t worry about what people around you think, but focus on your honest feelings.”
enlarge the photo Studio / photo by artist Seungyu Kim = Reporter Hyojeong Kwon
Author Kim gives unexpected advice to aspiring creators. “Learn to design. Sketching is the language of the imagination. It’s okay if you don’t know how to draw by hand. “Having an image in your head is important.”
He believes that creativity can be encouraged through learning design and art. Just like learning a new language, you can learn the language of imagination and creativity through drawing. Seungyu Kim’s philosophy goes beyond the Lego assembly method and emphasizes the essence of artistic creation.
Author Kim’s experience and insight into playing with Lego are noteworthy. In lessons with children he learned important lessons.
“There was time to gather with the children in the classroom. Even though I went there to educate, I actually entertained the kids for a few hours. The children created really strange things, completely different from what I asked them to make. Instead of approving it, I encouraged them to ‘spread the wings of their imagination’.”
enlarge the photo Work by artist Seungyu Kim / Photo = Reporter Hyojeong Kwon
It offers tips for kids who are new to playing with Legos. “What children find most difficult is running towards a set goal. So instead of saying, “Try this,” it’s more effective to say, “You can do anything, so just lay the bricks.” If you assemble the bricks one by one, soon you can have hundreds or thousands.”
Author Kim also had a message for future generations. “It’s okay if you can’t create great work right now. The very process of failure, breakup, and rebuilding is a valuable experience. Creativity, patience and problem-solving skills grow in the process. In the world we live in from now on, that will be a real superpower.I am.”
#Throw #manual #Ive #met #Koreans #world #certified #Lego #artists..