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Man Repairs Crumbling Walls With Legos
Lanxon writes "German-born artist Jan Vormann, 27, has spent the past three years traveling the world repairing crumbling walls and monuments with Lego, reports Wired. His "Dispatchwork" began in 2007 in the small village of Bocchignano, Italy, as part of the contemporary art festival 20 Eventi. Developing the work in situ, he became intrigued by the makeshift repairs that had been made to the crumbling walls. The approach favored function over appearance, reminding Vormann of the haphazard Lego designs created by children."
http://idle.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/07/25/1849208
That's pretty cool.
"We are just a war away from Amerikastan. When god vs god the undoing of man." Dave Mustaine
It's supposed to be LEGO, you insensitive clod!
I'm not sure if I'd want him repairing monuments with lego blocks. It's like to trying to restore the ceiling of Notre Dame with finger paints.
He's favoring appearance over usefulness, because his patches are not useful at all. They provide no structural integrity. And besides, they might just fall out when the building crumbles even more.
Also, someone should have linked to his main site instead relying on 'sticky' linked article, trying to keep you at wired.
Gonzo Granzeau
"Nothing the god of biomechanics wouldn't let you into heaven for.." -Roy Batty
It's got something to do with the octopi writing virii
rewriting history since 2109
Aside from the debate over whether the Lego bricks are more sturdy than stone of unknown composition: Which one is cheaper? Lego bricks are pretty damned expensive! LOL
This is an excellent example of what I am always saying: with lego(s), you are only limited by your imagination.
Why stop at making planes and gas stations when you could use them for many other things? Such as cd/dvd racks, cell phone holder, computer cases etc.
Sometimes, as some will undoubtedly say, it's not what could you do with them but why would you right? If I was to see a corner of damaged wall filled in with lego I would be "that's awesome!" It's also beautiful and breaks up the monotony of grey.
But more importantly, it inspired and gives people and especially children ideas. As I've said before, I think this is what helped guide me towards engineering/manufacturing (although it is not my profession). What I have learned has helped me out in every job I've had, and it all started with legos.
There's only 2 downsides to legos: 1) they're expensive to buy even in bulk, 2) you can never find that darn NxN you're looking for!&#*&#*(!!
My abilities are only limited by my imagination
That's probably why he is an artist, and not a mason.
"While kinda neat, aren't Legos expensive? I mean, why not just slap some cement/grout/etc on there? It would cost a fraction of the price and be more structurally sound."
I guess you missed the part where the guy doing the repairs calls himself an artist. Simply going around doing free masonry work wouldn't be very artsy, would it?
Python: 'And then suddenly you have a language which says "we're all stuck with whatever the whiniest coder wants".'
Actually i would like to have seen some grout or something used you cover up some of the Lego.
It would make some installations look like the whole place was built out of Lego and just covered up.
Curious question tho... what is the structural integrity of Lego? It can't be all that bad.
I can see the artist's intention in using bright, random colored logos to say "Look everyone - these are legos!". But I think it would have been vastly cooler (and more "artistic" - and much more difficult) to have matched the color and geometric pattern of the structure he was repairing (extending the mortar joints, etc.).
Better known as 318230.
TFA states that he's worked with volunteers from "three to 40 years". Who the hell works with three years? Who the hell volunteers?
Ah, yes,I forgot, this is LEGO we're talking about.
Have you heard about SoylentNews?
I wonder if he can repair my constituency' side wall?
--Simon
*sigh* Legos, sheeps, fishs...
Lego bricks. They're Lego bricks. It's a derivative of "leg godt" in Dutch, which means "play well" (source), and a mass noun, not a count noun. How hard can it be to use the correct name for a product?
[/pedant]
:D > £/$
Agreed. That is why i don't think its structurally sound. Water/ice will get in between the brick and the lego and cause further erosion. The lego, while probably capable of lasting a long time, will just plop out like a loose tooth. If he would have grouted the area around the lego, adhering the lego to the existing wall, it would have improved the structure's structural integrity and looked cooler as well. Just my 2 cents.
I will bend like a reed in the wind.
It looks like he puked rainbow colored bricks into the walls. Any self respecting lego maniac would have color coded it to match the existing materials. And common; "...The approach favored function over appearance..." How are these walls more functional? Did he build secret compartments into them? Is there something going on beneath the surface with lego mindstorms and underpants gnomes?
Parting thoughts: How does he secure the legos? Glue? Does he cut the lego pieces, or chisel away the wall to provide a flatter surface?
The story about the kid who builds lego guns is much more interesting than some "artist" who "repairs" walls with legos.
http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2010-06/11/working-sniper-rifle,-minigun-and-shotgun-built-from-lego
James May built an entire house out of Lego. For some reason, he was unsuccessful in selling it, even after living in it overnight.
Damn_registrars has no butt-hole. Damn_registrars has no use for a butt-hole.
Lego is the company name. The individual toy parts are "Lego bricks" (or blocks) not "Legos". You wouldn't say "Nintendos" in place of "Nintendo games" or "Hot Wheelses" instead of "Hot Wheels cars". I have heard girls say "Barbies" instead of "Barbie dolls", but that is equally incorrect.
Support Right To Repair Legislation.
Because it is an adjective, not a noun?
Wow, sent an e-mail as suggested when clicking on "use classic" banner, and got a fast response that addressed my msg
Ford would want you to do that if there was a risk that all cars were referred to as Fords. This is a risk that Lego runs.
Wow, sent an e-mail as suggested when clicking on "use classic" banner, and got a fast response that addressed my msg
Dude, stop yelling. I'm trying to Xerox some Polaroids of me cleaning my Legos with a Kleenex.
Then you have to say things like "I drive a Toyota car", not "I drive a Toyota"; "I like Doritos brand corn chips" not "I like Doritos"; "Are you going to the Starbucks coffee shop?", not "Are you going to Starbucks" and many other silly things that will just make you sound very silly. And pedantic. And annoying.
He comes up on http://www.thereifixedit.com/ every now and then and always gives me a good chuckle.
Is 1563649 a prime number?
I guess you missed the part where the guy doing the repairs calls himself an artist. Simply going around doing free masonry work wouldn't be very artsy, would it?
I thought "artists" used their own feces?
I think I just saw this guy in Laussanne! http://imgur.com/x9fXD But then again those look like megabloks....
Is there anything pasta sauce cannot do.
Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
Pasta sauce tends to get everywhere doesn't it?
To clear this one up, Lego is it's own plural. "I was playing with Lego" is perfectly acceptable when referring to multiple Lego bricks.
Lego = small plastic bricks, popular with geeks and children.
Legos = cheap and bland pasta sauce, popular with people who cant cook or taste.
Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
You can get buckets of cheap knock off bricks which are not technically LEGO.
http://michaelsmith.id.au
A cartridge of silicone might be the answer. Smear it between the bricks and use masses of the stuff to fill the space between the bricks and the existing structure. Even where it won't stick it will tend to hang on to gaps, etc in masonry.
http://michaelsmith.id.au
All in all, its just a-nother brick in the wall...
Slowly waving my hand - "This is not the sig you are looking for."
No you don't, because none of those companies have chosen name their products the same way Lego do.
Now, like any true Scotsman, I'm going to put some salts on my porridges.
Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
None of those companies have the risk of their brand becoming a generic term.
As popular as they are people don't say I'm at cosi when at Starbucks.
This is a real risk for LEGO with many compatible blocks coming out.
Xerox is a company that had a similar problem, and they too are pedantic about Xerox brand copy machines.
Driving a Toyota is still used to differentiate "Toyota" vs others, "Doritos" is still used as a differentiator, and even "Starbucks" is used to refer to Starbucks, not coffee shops in general.
Lego is actually used this way too, but part of it is the companies own vigilance in the issue.
Wow, sent an e-mail as suggested when clicking on "use classic" banner, and got a fast response that addressed my msg