Easily one of the most recognizable and influential Japanese artworks of all time continues to make creative waves around the world: Hokusai – The Great Wave. The LEGO Group is paying tribute to this global masterpiece and its almost two-century-long history by re-imagining the iconic masterpiece in LEGO Art form, giving lovers of art and Japanese culture the opportunity to immerse themselves into a relaxing build, perfect for displaying at home.
Since Katsushika Hokusai created the original woodblock print of The Great Wave in the early 1830s, the image has decorated the walls of museums, inspired music, and been recreated as street art and merchandise around the world. The image portrays Mount Fuji, Japan’s iconic mountain, behind a large wave covering a group of small boats.
The artwork has now been re-imagined by LEGO designers in this new 1,810-piece LEGO Art set, featuring layers and elements of different shapes to portray the lines and depth of Hokusai’s original artwork.
“We’re thrilled that fans of art and Japanese culture will get the chance to immerse themselves into the relaxing project of recreating the iconic Great Wave, captured in a LEGO Art set,” said Annemette Baaskjær Nielsen, Designer at the LEGO Group. “This set offers so many ways that fans can unwind and find their flow. Not just immersing themselves into the building process, but also getting into the artwork and how that is composed. Sparking an interest in Hokusai’s instantly recognizable original and its rich history of almost 200 years.”
According to new research, from the LEGO Group’s global ‘Play Well 2022 Report’, most adults (93%) regularly feel stressed and are looking for new ways to unwind and relax (80%). Most of them (92%) want to unwind and find their flow through activities that are related to their hobbies and interests.
Art and LEGO fans can find their flow as they build and listen to the accompanying soundtrack while looking through the premium booklet of instructions that features details about the original artwork. Using LEGO Art Hokusai: The Great Wave as a great escape.
The 1,810-piece #31208 LEGO Art Hokusai: The Great Wave set is going to be available from January 1st from official LEGO stores, LEGO retailers, and the Online LEGO Shop. Prices are as follows: €99.99 / $99.99 / £89.99/ 169.99 AUD/ 139.99 CAD. For more information, visit the LEGO Art section of the Online LEGO Shop.
What do you think? How do you like this new LEGO Art set? Feel free to share your thoughts and discuss in the comment section below!
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This is really pretty, and a great nice blend of mosaic techniques. Not a bad price either. Tempting 😀
Cool! We need more manga style in Lego sets!
Wait. Did they make the waves out of leaves and birds?!
It does look like that. Pretty creative parts usage.
This will be a great way to show the people around me I am a Democrat riding the blue wave in the US. This is a great political statement. I’ve never heard of this piece of art but I will use it to make an in your face political statement. this is so cool!
Too bad few people will get it…
But it’s a good thing you don’t live in Europe, where blue tend to be the color of conservatives…
(I remember having the Great Wave as motif on an old mouse pad, by the way. I might still have that old mouse pad somewhere, unless the plastic started to crackle up. I can’t remember…)
I don’t think it’s as good as the other painting. That one was more 3D and more colorful. Somehow this one seems boring to me.
Happy new year to you all! The new sets are already uploaded and available. I’m starry eyed just browsing through them. 😀