The Cubic Structural Evolution Project

Overview

Many have dreamed of the day when one may play with Lego under the facade of participating in an interactive art exhibition. Well that day has arrived. Thanks to Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson, the Auckland Art Gallery is currently decked out with a twelve metre long table, piled high with white lego bricks. And none of that “please don’t touch the display” business here, the artist has given the all-go for exhibition-goers to Lego to their hearts’ content.

Eliasson’s art is largely to do with the diverse perceptions and experiences of the world. He is known for mimicking nature through manmade devices, with impressive displays of light, water and air being a key part of his artwork. His latest exhibit, the Cubic Structural Evolution Project, is all about seeing how different people see the city, including its landscape and architecture. Since the project encourages full public engagement, the art is essentially constructed by the people who view it. If you want to get deep about it, the whole thing comments on the structure of urbanism and the triangular relationship between creator, spectator and object not only in this one piece, but in society as a whole.

So yes, themes of construction, alteration, modification, destruction, participation, collaboration and re-construction are introduces and explored through the work. On an analytical level, the exhibition is an incredible replica of the ongoing evolution of any metropolis and the concept of urbanism. But on a less-analytical level, it is any 90’s kid’s fantasy. Just leave some pieces for the children.