Street Talk: Vincent Cheung and Andy Hung
Many of us were obsessed with Lego as children. Vincent Cheung (left)and Andy Hung (right) still are. They tell Emily Wu how these colorful building blocks provide an outlet for the imagination. Together with other top Lego masters, they have worked on a new exhibition at Cityplaza in which 17 world landmarks made out of 3 million Lego pieces are on display.
HK Magazine: Can you tell us some of your earliest memories of using Lego?
Vincent Cheung: I got my first Lego set when I was around 4 or 5.
It was not easy to get a pack of Lego in the old days, as it was quite expensive. I shared a set with my brothers and we made small items like cars or ships. We spent happy days in a simple way.
HK: Are you a die-hard Lego fan?
VC: There was a “vacuum period” during which I stopped for quite a few years. I only picked up Lego again when I had my two kids. I think it’s good for them because it can inspire their creativity. When they are making the models, they have to do calculations that drill and develop their mathematical skills and imagination. That brought me back to this amazing toy; since then, I’ve become addicted to it.
HK: What’s so attractive about Lego?
VC: Unlimited possibilities exist with Lego, which have a lot of malleability. The bricks are, in fact, useful materials like clay and wood. I use them to create my own “artwork.” Playing with Lego is much more worthwhile than watching TV. We don’t think but instead merely receive messages when we sit in front of the television. [With Lego] we have to gear up our brains to decide how we can form a model by putting the square pieces together.
HK: What brought you to victory in the Lego contest, “Hong Kong—A City of Charm,” that was held at the Ani-com Hong Kong comics convention in 2010?
Andy Hung: My creation was the Wong Tai Sin Temple and Vincent’s was the Cheung Chau Bun Festival. He had really vivid and dynamic elements in his work, like the bun tower and the lion dance. I won the first runner-up spot. We both have our own style and characteristics.
HK: Did you guys have to stay up late at night to get the exhibits done?
VC: What you see is the impressive end result of two months of hard work. Two-thirds of these are new items that we made specially for the exhibition. For a part-time creator like me, there was actually not enough time. I didn’t really get much sleep throughout those two months.
HK: What’s the most challenging task you have gone through to make the masterpieces on display?
AH: This is my first time making Beijing’s Tiananmen Square and Hall of Supreme Harmony. Luckily I’ve worked on some creations that had unique Chinese-style roof tiles and decorative patterns before, so I could handle that part quite well. The Chinese guardian lions were a real challenge to me because I had never made such sculptures. I spent half a day figuring out how to show the imposing manner of the lions. I was so happy when I finished them.
VC: For me, how to move my whole work, the “Thai King’s Palace,” was the most nerve-wracking part. I had to think carefully about how to disassemble some parts first and then combine them together after arriving at the exhibition site. I have always enjoyed making works in an Asian style.