In Pieces is a seemingly ordinary photo series that, in fact, incorporates LEGO objects that go unnoticed. Sculptor Nathan Sawaya and photographer Dean West joined forces for this creative multimedia project, each applying their area of expertise to produce a set of deceptive images that lead the viewer’s gaze to wander in search of fabricated objects or subjects.
In one frame, we’re presented with an image of a man in his underwear standing by an indoor pool. Just about anything could be the elusive LEGO object(s), but it turns out to be the towel hanging on a hook and the flip flops on the ground. In hindsight, the blocky objects may seem obvious; however, much of the image is already pixelated. The scene is filled with boxes that make up the tiled walls and floor, not to mention the artificiality of lighting and Photoshop edits that are typically rendered in digital photography and print ads.
Digital photography has risen as a popular medium in the last decade, allowing things like LEGO sculptures to be lost in pixelated renderings. By inserting the LEGO sculptures into a digitally photographed and edited image, the objects are able to visually assimilate into their environment. As such, the series draws attention to the visual difference in today’s shift in technology.
