Australian Lego Masters 2020 competition winners Jackson Harvey and Alex Towler hope there will be just as many expletives (with more of a wondrous tone than that of excruciating pain) when Otago residents see their "Lego Relics: A New World Rises" exhibition at Tūhura Otago Museum for the first time next Saturday.
"We hope that what we do is exciting and original enough that people feel like they want to express joy with colourful words when they walk in," Mr Towler said.
"But there’s no Lego to be stepped on here. Don’t worry, it’s a safe space."
The childhood friends have been in Dunedin for much of this week, unloading three large shipping containers of Lego and setting up the exhibition, brick by brick.
Mr Harvey said the "Relics" exhibition aimed to transport visitors to Earth in the year 2530, long after humanity has departed.
In this post-human world, Lego mini-figures have taken over the planet and created intricate societies within the vintage objects left behind by humans — such as a grandfather clock repurposed as a time machine, a cryonics facility inside a 1940s fridge and a retro arcade turned into a busy spaceport.
"We imagined little Lego people living inside everyday objects, and the idea grew from there into a post-human world.
"It’s about reimagining the old and making something new out of what’s been left behind."
Mr Towler hoped it would make people look at everyday household items in a new light.
He said what made the creations truly unique was their focus on sustainability.
The majority of the Lego pieces used in "Relics" were second-hand and included about 2000 mini-figures, which injected a sustainable and eco-conscious element into the exhibition.
"We wanted to give discarded items a second life, just like we do with the Lego pieces.
"There’s a clear link to upcycling, which fits perfectly with Dunedin’s own commitment to sustainability."
The duo said they were already aware of Dunedin's reputation as New Zealand’s wildlife capital and its focus on preserving the environment by upcycling and recycling.
Museum marketing manager Charlie Buchan said the duo would be at the opening of the exhibition next Saturday, to give a public talk about the creative process behind "Relics".
They will also meet local Lego enthusiasts and builders to share tips, tricks and inspiration, he said.
"They’re incredibly down to earth, very clever at their craft and genuinely passionate about what they do."
The exhibit will be on display until mid-April next year.
