You know how some ancient architectures, such as The Hanging Temple in China and the Paro Takstang in Bhutan, were built into the natural landscapes like cliffs? Well, the RELICS: A New World Rises exhibition currently open at the South Australian Museum (SAM) is kind of like these majestic ancient architectures.
In this exhibition created by artists/creators Alex Towler and Jackson Harvey, winners of Channel 9 LEGO® Masters in 2020, ordinary abandoned objects offer the natural landscapes where bustling LEGO® civilizations strive.
For example, the trunk of the classic Volkswagen Beetle has a bustling LEGO town complete with a town square, multi-tier structures, and tattered shacks, bursting out of it. And then there is the jet ski with its rear transformed into a beachside/dockside town that reminds us of the old Havana. That is a real VW Beetle and an actual jet ski, by the way.
It is really a sight to behold. The sight of miniature LEGO® cities emerging out of modern artifacts is fascinating and surreal at the same time.
Official words:
RELICS: A New World Rises is a collection of old and forgotten objects housing miniature worlds built of LEGO®. Each display weaves intricate LEGO® constructions into unique objects to evoke a sense of nostalgia and ignite fresh curiosity, inviting audiences young and old to explore the world within a world.
In addition to regular towns and cities, there are high-tech, miniature LEGO® cities too. An arcade cabinet and a claw machine have also been taken over by high-tech LEGO® cities.
Official words:
Within each relic, the LEGO® civilisation has adapted to the distinctive character of the artefact it inhabits. A marauding band of inventors have reverse-engineered a grandfather clock to build a time machine. A cryonics facility, nestled inside a vintage refrigerator, maintains mini figures in a frosty stasis to keep them safe from the effects of an overheated climate. In a retro arcade, airlocks and elevators connect a series of gaming machines together to form a futuristic space port. Even more curious worlds can be discovered, each with their own strange stories to tell!
RELICS: A New World Rises at the South Australian Museum started on March 04 and will remain open until July 23, 2023 (Adelaide time). It opens daily from 10 AM to 5 PM.
General admission ticket cost 17.27 Australian dollars plus book fees and tax, which works to be AUD$19.98 per person. Ticket for children of ages 5-12 is 12.73 Australian dollars plus booking fees and tax (AUD$14.85) each. There is a family package for 2 adults and up to 3 children of 5-12 years old going for AUD$68.15 including book fees and tax. Children under the age of 5 enter for free.
For more information and to book tickets, visit: https://www.relicsexhibitions.com/
Images: Sia Duff courtesy of South Australian Museum. Additional images: Instagram (@back2brick2).
