- The exhibition of miniature Chinese landmarks at a Beijing shopping mall will run until mid-October
- The models’ chief designer, a Lego Certified Professional, says there are 18 new designs on show that took half a year to assemble
At the Indigo shopping mall in Beijing, visitors marvel at colourful miniatures of Chinese landmarks made of thousands of plastic Lego blocks.
From the Forbidden City to the Great Wall of China to the terracotta warriors, the works were created by China's first Lego Certified Professional (LCP), Andy Hung Chi-kin, and his team, for the "Dynasty of Brick " Lego Chinese Culture Exhibition".
"We want to showcase Chinese culture through the exhibition," says Hung, chief designer of the touring show, which will run in Beijing until mid-October.
"While some works have shown before in other exhibitions, there are 18 new designs including Beijing courtyard houses, Fujian tulou or earth roundhouses, and the Tangyue Memorial Archway in Anhui province. Besides architecture, we have also made other Chinese cultural symbols like Peking opera masks and lion dance props. It took half a year for my team to assemble the new works."
Hong Kong-born Hung, 39, is one of 14 LCPs around the world, including another from mainland China and one from Taiwan. His company, Legend Creative, has more than 10 full-time staff.
Hung has been a fan of Lego since childhood. He won a competition organised by Lego Hong Kong in 2010, and joined the now 87-year-old Danish company after he became a certified professional to help Lego enter the China market.
His company is authorised to, on behalf of Lego, collaborate with other brands.
"As long as we comply with Lego rules such as no works portraying sex and violence and no cooperation with religious groups, we can use the brand for commercial cooperation," Hung says, "For example, we made a miniature model of a cruise ship for Dream Cruises in 2017."
The former stockbroker says he is glad he could turn his interest into a full-time job.
"I have been building Lego models since I was five years old. I worked as a stockbroker until I was 33. My family supported my decision to quit the finance world and turn my childhood passion into a lifelong career. I am very lucky," he says.
"Every year, the 14 certified professionals converge at the Danish headquarters or other cities to exchange ideas and get training from Lego. My job is a lot of fun."
Lego is one of the world's most recognised brands. According to its website, the company is "committed to the development of children and aims to inspire and develop the builders of tomorrow through creative play and learning".
With the company's plans to further expand in China, Hung says he will get even busier travelling around the country for the opening of new Lego stores.
"Chinese parents are attracted by the education philosophy behind Lego," he says. "There are many schools offering Lego classes in China where children are taught to be creative and use their limitless imaginations in their designs."
Dynasty of Brick " Lego Chinese Culture Exhibition runs until October 14 at the Indigo shopping mall, 18 Jiuxianqiao Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing
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