We’ve all played with them at one time or another, and they are unquestionably great fun. But for the vast majority of us, Legos are childs’ play. We build a few spaceships, perhaps a castle or two, and then put them away to collect dust while we pursue more ‘mature’ activities. So you might be surprised to learn that, for some, Lego is a lifelong obsession. In fact, the AFOL (adult fans of Lego) community is quite large, and while you may be initially skeptical about adults who still play with toys, your opinion is sure to change after seeing a few of their incredible creations.
AFOLs like to joke about their hobby being, as the acronym seems to suggest, awful. But these builders are an impressive bunch, and are rightfully proud of what they do. Sophisticated Lego building requires a combination of artistic talent, engineering knowledge, design expertise, and resourcefulness. Carpenters work with wood, machinists with metal, painters with paint, and AFOLs with Lego. The plastic brick becomes an art medium in their hands.
In a recent ‘Blocumentary’ about the AFOL community in the Pacific Northwest, director Jess Gibson introduces the world to these unique and self-proclaimed geek hobbyists. Some have even managed to professionalize their love for Lego by becoming Lego Certified Professionals (LCPs), who earn money through exhibitions and Lego building events. Amongst this eclectic group there are engineers, software designers, physicists, and talented individuals from a wide array of technical backgrounds. As Gibson’s documentary shows, most AFOLs are also avid collectors––many with the goal of collecting every Lego piece ever made. They have workshops and archives containing millions of pieces, all neatly organized and carefully stored. A few claim to have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars building their collections over many years.
With the advent of social media, the AFOL community has become increasingly organized and networked in recent years. They post and discuss their latest creations on Flickr, and have begun organizing conferences and local meetings throughout the UK and US. The UK’s first and only conference, AFOLCON was held in 2011 in Manchester, bringing in more than 80 participants. Another ‘large’ conference is scheduled for 2013 in Birmingham, Alabama. There is even an official Lego theme park in Anaheim, California, where many AFOLs are employed and able to demonstrate their aptitude with the brick.
While most of us reluctantly set aside ‘childish things’ as we get older, it is inspiring to see people who can turn their childhood passion into a lifelong pursuit. When we think of Lego, art isn’t exactly the first thing that comes to mind––and neither is technical engineering, for that matter.
These passionate people are proof that art and design know no boundaries. Some see toys, others, like us fanatics at legolandholidays.co.uk see only possibilities.