Rediscovering Play: My Deep Dive into Lego as an Adult

Turns out, assembling tiny plastic bricks is my new self-care

Lego has been a staple of childhoods since the '60s and '70s. For me, however, it completely passed me by. That is, until now… at the ripe old age of 🀰🀰🤫, I have finally discovered the joys of Lego, and I am hooked.

The Modern Art set caught my eye recently, as I've been feeling nostalgic and drawn to art, design, and music from the postmodern era. While I’d noticed a few of the adult-oriented sets in passing throughout recent years (mainly the floral and Star Wars collections) this one stood out. It felt different, unique. What really appealed to me was its open-ended nature. Once all the pieces were assembled, I could follow the suggested configurations in the manual or create my own unique piece of modern art.

(Modern Art Lego box)

The Build Process

The build begins with assembling the frame, which serves as the foundation for the abstract, colourful shapes you create next. The instruction booklet is divided into three sections: Balance, Movement, & Rhythm, each guiding you through different bags of Lego bricks that come together to form a collection of abstract pieces. At these points, the booklet showcases inspirational configurations and connects them to key design principles of the postmodern movement. These moments offered little pauses for reflection, allowing me to appreciate the core concepts of the movement, a really nice touch.

As a first-time Lego builder, I found the instructions easy to follow, and I really appreciated the overall quality and presentation of the booklet.

(Photos of my build progress)

A New Kind of Downtime

Over the course of several evenings, I leisurely worked on this set, looking forward to each session. It was a welcome shift from my usual downtime activities, which normally consisted of watching TV or doomscrolling on my phone. Completing each section was incredibly satisfying, and seeing all my newly created pieces laid out gave me a huge sense of accomplishment.

A Nostalgic Inspiration

When it came time to assemble the final composition, I decided to take a creative approach. I drew inspiration from the original 1991 Sonic the Hedgehog and its Japanese box art. This game was a defining moment in my childhood. I still remember the sheer awe I felt at a friend’s 7th birthday party when he unwrapped a Sega Mega Drive bundled with Sonic. The moment he powered it on, I was completely mesmerized. The sheer speed, the vibrant visuals, the iconic music. It was an intoxicating sensory overload, and postmodern motifs were at the heart of it all, much like so much media of that era.

(The OG Sonic the Hedgehog box art)

Sonic wasn’t just a game; it was a gateway to my love for design, ultimately influencing my decision to study animation. Given the blue hedgehog’s impact on my childhood, it felt like the perfect source of inspiration. And voilà, my final creation was born! I absolutely love the finished product and have it proudly on display in my office.

(My finished creation)

Unexpected Community Reactions

Building this set was such a fun and relaxing experience, and I truly love the final product. However, when I went online to see what other compositions people had created, I stumbled across a Reddit thread about the set. To my surprise, the Lego community wasn’t exactly thrilled about it. While I understand that it’s an unconventional set, that’s precisely what I love about it! One thing that struck me while building was how perfect this set would be for a team-building activity. Imagine a group of people each assembling their own interpretation, then coming together to showcase their unique creations. It’s a fantastic way to encourage creativity, self-expression, and collaboration. Plus, it would be so much fun!

If this set piques your interest, I’d suggest grabbing one while you still can. Lego has officially discontinued it, but if you search around, you might still find it in stock.

The Addiction Begins...

After completing the Modern Art set, I immediately purchased Lucky Bamboo and finished it within a couple of evenings. My next set to build is the Mini Orchid, but I’m trying to pace myself… I can already see how Lego could become a full-blown addiction. The real challenge now? Figuring out where to display all these creations.

Final Thoughts

If, like me, Lego didn’t feature in your childhood, I highly recommend trying one of the adult sets that aligns with your interests. It’s therapeutic, tactile, and at the end, you’ll have a wonderful creation to show for it. Whether you're into art, architecture, or pop culture, there’s a set out there for you. Give it a go, you might just get hooked too.