Can LEGO art survive vandalism?

LEGO artist Sean Kenney shares what it’s like when someone damages public LEGO displays.

In a video shared to his Instagram, Kenney showed what happens when damage is done to LEGO models that brick artists create for public spaces and exhibitions. In his case, someone had broken off the head of a brick-built gardener. Because artists like him use glue to ensure their sculptures will last, the damage is much worse than your average LEGO model break.

“LEGO sculptures are built row by row with interlocking levels, so things don’t just pop off,” Kenney explained. “The damage that was done was pretty significant.”

The first step is to sand and scrape off any glue lingering on the remaining bricks, creating a smooth base of undamaged bricks to work with. Kenney also drills into the sculpture to put a metal rod inside the model, in order to add extra stability to the replacement head.

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All in all, the repairs took Kenney about a week to do from start to finish. Once he’s done, his carefully-built creation is ready to go back on display where it belongs. You can see the entire process from start to finish over on Kenney’s Instagram.

Featured image: Sean Kenney

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