IN PIECES // Dean West y Nathan Sawaya

At the intersection of hyperrealistic photography and contemporary sculpture, In Pieces —a series conceived by Australian photographer Dean West and American sculptor Nathan Sawaya—stands as an exercise in conceptual subtlety and technical virtuosity. Through a meticulous symbiosis between photographic imagery and sculptural elements crafted from LEGO bricks, this collaboration challenges the viewer’s perception and redefines the notions of artifice and reality in contemporary art.

Work by Dean West y

Texts & Content Curation by

Felipe Rodríguez - Mattern.

"In Pieces": Precise Balance Between Reality and Construction

At first glance, the compositions of In Pieces present immaculate, almost cinematic scenes of everyday life, with a visual treatment that evokes the aesthetics of advertising and hyperrealism. However, upon closer inspection, one discovers the presence of objects meticulously crafted from LEGO, subtly integrated into the visual narrative of each piece. This layering of real and constructed elements, far from being a mere playful device, prompts the viewer to question the nature of the image and the very notion of reality as a constructed entity.

The series has been enthusiastically received by critics, who have praised its ability to demand prolonged observation and its masterful use of perceptual deception. We Heart has highlighted how the work requires an analytical gaze, compelling the viewer to deconstruct the image piece by piece, gradually uncovering the disruption introduced by the LEGO objects. Similarly, My Modern Met has noted the ingenuity with which the series plays with perception, guiding the audience through a gradual discovery of the sculptural interventions and challenging conventional notions of photography as a testament to reality.

On the other hand, Artsy Forager has emphasized the conceptual weight of In Pieces, where the high degree of stylization and visual manipulation serves as a metaphor for the inherent artificiality of contemporary life. In a world increasingly mediated by digital technology—where representations of reality are manipulated, refined, and stripped of imperfection—West and Sawaya’s work emerges as a subtle yet profound reflection on the constructed nature of the environments we inhabit.

With In Pieces, West and Sawaya have achieved a unique synthesis of technical precision and philosophical inquiry. Their work not only captivates with its flawless execution but also challenges the viewer, compelling them to confront the boundaries between the real and the fabricated, the tangible and the illusory. Beyond its visual impact, the series stands as an exercise in perception and discovery, reminding us that, both in art and in life, everything depends on looking closely enough to truly see what lies before our eyes.

Dean West was born in Australia in 1983. Nathan Sawaya was born in the United States in 1973.