Cute pandas in life-size Myvis, all made brick by brick

Every creation, big or small, is meticulously put together. (Muhammad Rabbani Jamian @ FMT Lifestyle)

SHAH ALAM: Have you ever been told that you are too old to play with Legos? Think again, because Bryks Art Malaysia is here to prove you wrong.

Founded in 2018, Bryks Art has earned a reputation for transforming everything from everyday objects like teapots, to beloved characters like Pikachu, into intricate brick creations.

What started with just four minds has grown into a 140-member team, transforming dreamers into creators.

FMT Lifestyle visited their headquarters in Glenmarie, Shah Alam to speak with the talents behind Bryks Art, marvel at their exceptional creations and gain insight into their creative process.

Co-founders Eugene Gan (left) and Eugene Lee, alongside designers Chris Willy and Asyraf Khadri (right). (Muhammad Rabbani Jamian @ FMT Lifestyle)

Co-founders Eugene Lee and Eugene Gan share not only a first name but also a lifelong love of Lego.

“I stopped playing with Legos when I was a teenager, but I picked it up again in my 30s, creating more complex structures,” Lee told FMT Lifestyle.

The 44-year-old, a former electrical engineer who worked closely with architects, was intrigued when he saw them making Lego models.

And how did he meet Gan, the other half of Bryks Art? Their meeting seems like something out of a novel. “We became friends while waiting in line to buy Lego,” Gan said with a laugh.

From Pokemon to Minions, every Bryks Art product is stunningly realistic. (Muhammad Rabbani Jamian @ FMT Lifestyle)

Speaking to the design team, Asyraf Khadri, 29, revealed the process behind their unique and flawless brick creations.

“We start with ideation and then move to the 3D model. There’s a lot of engineering to do to match the original structure.”

In fact, most of the design team, including the founders, have engineering backgrounds. And the question was: is there anything they can’t make from bricks?

“We’ll have to think about it, but for now the answer is no,” Lee said proudly.

A brick-built Myvi car was the star of Bryks Art’s first public appearance in 2022. (Muhammad Rabbani Jamian @ FMT Lifestyle)

Bryks Art made its first public appearance at Publika in 2022, showcasing its most popular creation: the Myvi.

“Our main goal was simply to test and practice moving our brick creation from our office to another location,” they explained.

They expected little reaction from the public, but a few hours after their installation in the early morning, they were taken by surprise.

“Around 7am, my phone kept vibrating,” Gan recalls. He soon learned that their Myvi brick had gone viral on social media.

“I was so confused, because the mall wasn’t even open yet,” he shared, amused. “Then we realized that the hauler who unloaded the car had made a TikTok video for his portfolio, which reached about half a million views!”

The team agreed that their Myvi brick, dubbed the “King of the Road,” would always hold a special place in their hearts. They even created several Myvi models inspired by social media memes, such as driving through rice fields, climbing stairs, and flying over road bumps.

Staring at it from the public, it became the largest brick mural in Malaysia. (Facebook photo by Bryks Art)

One of their most ambitious and memorable projects was the mural they created in 2022 at IOI City Mall in Putrajaya for the 65th Merdeka Malaysia. Featuring the words “Malaysia Teguh Bersama”, it became the largest brick mural in Malaysia, measuring approximately 30.48 metres in length.

Made up of over 5,000 puzzle pieces and over a million tiny bricks, this piece was no small feat. But what makes it truly special is that over 90% of the mural was built by members of the public.

Looking back on that day, Lee remembers being nervous.

“At first, we wondered if the mural could be completed in a month before Malaysia Day. But the crowds came and everyone contributed to complete it in just two weeks.”

The team’s pride in the Malaysians’ enthusiasm was palpable. Chris Willy, 35, recalls one amusing and memorable incident: “A couple started arguing because they arrived too late after the mural was already finished. The wife was scolding her husband, saying, ‘I told you to come early!’”

While their creations were once just temporary exhibits in malls and at events, they are now set to open a permanent space at KL Gateway Mall where Malaysians can get their hands dirty and start building. And, let’s just say, it might have something to do with pandas!

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