Monday Vision: Playful Experiences
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
We often hear people talking about what they’d like to do outside their daily work, dreams or hobbies they’d like to pursue. Sometimes we’re surprised by hidden talent that’s expressed during after hours. Playful Experiences can not only delight the person that creates them, but also those that get to experience them.
Nathan Sawaya, a former lawyer with a fascination for creating Lego sculptures after work, has become a well known artist and recently expanded his impressive collection of brick art from North American to Australia. The Art of the Brick exhibition in Federation Square, Melbourne (yes, one of us is on the ground here right now) features large scale sculptures from apples to humans by the New York based artist.
Some of Nathan Sawaya’s Lego sculptures on show at Federation Square, Melbourne.
We’re big fans of Lego, it’s been around since the 1940’s and has become an international, timeless iconic brand with a diverse subculture spanning movies, games, video games, books, competitions, stores and even themed amusement parks. Its audience ranges from kids to adults, with objects and themes designed to entertain all imaginations.
Sawaya’s playful and whimsical interpretation of a person swimming.
Sawaya takes his inspiration from getting out and about, experiencing daily life and expressing this through his brick art. “Many of my works center on the phenomena of how everyday life, people, and raw emotion are intertwined…” His creations capture architecture, people, scenes, objects… and in keeping with the playfulness of Lego, Sawaya’s brick art is often whimsical.
Monday Collective’s Rochelle making friends Down Under.
Lego and Sawaya are a great example of how Playful Experiences can create powerful emotional connections that people identify and engage with. A timeless iconic brand combined with a passionate creative mind can produce wonders for us all to enjoy.
Monday Collective specializes in connected brand design ideas. Our on-the-ground discoveries, insights and ideas help others get in touch with people and the world we live in. Get in touch with Monday Collective through more@mondaycollective.com.
Monday Vision: Playful Experiences
Sunday, July 17, 2011
The experiences that make you smile are often the most rewarding. So when we find these moments, we like to share them. Playful Experiences can help create happier moments for everyone, and it’s something we often forget to do when we’re up to our necks in daily routines. We’re giving you a smile break…
Miami based experiential art duo FriendsWithYou are having their first New York solo exhibition at The Hole and it’s titled “ 
”. Their toy-like art style caught our attention at The Highline a couple of Monday’s ago and we wanted to check out more of their happy work. Their gallery exhibition brings us a crowd of smiling faces and an interactive “experiential wonderland” in collaboration with Native Shoes.
‘Rainbow City’ at The Highline from Miami based experiential art duo FriendsWithYou.
Samuel Borkson and Arturo Sandoval III formed FriendsWithYou on a mission to spread the idea of “Magic, Luck and Friendship” around the world. As you walk into the newly transformed studio space you enter a garden of colorful delights, where you can jump over smiling puddles, look up at giggle sticks, stare at splattered happy wall pieces, grinning ghosts, smirking smoke flumes, happily rolling eyes and heads… and a massive, energized, inflatable sculpture. It all sounds a bit crazy, and it is, but it’s fun and liberating – the kind of experience we like.
A selection of ‘smiles’ from FriendsWithYou’s exhibition at The Hole, NYC.
What struck us most is how the simplest things with a twist of humor can really tease a smile and export you into another world. A simple design can spread a smile far and wide and be a welcome contrast to the increased complexity and confusion we have around us today. Everyone deserves a break to enjoy a simple Playful Experience.
A massive chandelier of an inflatable sculpture fills a room at The Hole, NYC.
At Monday Collective we think it’s important to give yourself space to smile. We take time to experience what’s going on in the world around us, so that we get in touch and connected with what matters most to people.
Monday Collective specializes in connected brand design ideas. Our on-the-ground discoveries, insights and ideas help others get in touch with people and the world we live in. Get in touch with Monday Collective through more@mondaycollective.com.
