Lego art or the art of the brick
(Level: Upper-Intermediate / B2 to C1 / ***)

Nathan Sawaya (born in 1973) is an American artist who creates sculptures and large-scale mosaics from Lego bricks. 

Nathan Sawaya
Photo credit: insideedition.com/headlines/6754-lawyer-turned-lego-artist

You are going to listen to Mr Sawaya (Sky News report) as he is describing his career and his reasons to turn into a Lego artist.





Before watching:


The following words could be useful:
corporate law: legal system relating to businesses, corporations... involved in the practice of commerce          droit des entreprises, des sociétés / droit administratif 
an outlet: a way to release one's emotions, energy...    manière de se défouler 
to crash (for a website): to become inaccessible      être inaccessible  
too many hits (on a website): too many surfers on one specific site     trop de visiteurs (sur le site)

'Yellow' by Nathan Sawaya
Picture credit: moviespictures.org

'Red' by Nathan Sawaya
Picture credit: brickartist.com

If you are interested in The Art of the Brick or if you want to know more about brick artist Nathan Sawaya, click HERE

While watching

Watch the Sky News interview of Mr Sawaya.

Complete the following grid in French:

What did he study?
Where did he work initially? What did he do? How long?
What did he do after work in his free time? And later...
What crucial decision did he then make?

When you are finished, you can check your answers.

What did he study?	Le droit
Where did he work initially? What did he do? How long?	Dans une société où il était juriste (ou avocat-conseil / conseiller juridique d’entreprise / spécialiste en droit des entreprises… )    Pendant plusieurs années.
What did he do after work in his free time? And later...	Après le travail, il aimait donner libre cours à son inspiration artistique (peinture , dessins, écriture, sculpture)    Il s’est tourné vers les Lego (car souvenirs ; jouets d’enfance…) et a conçu une galerie virtuelle de ses sculptures en Lego (très largement fréquentée par les internautes).
What crucial decision did he then make?	Il a décidé de quitter son job d’avocat et de se lancer à plein temps dans la sculpture en Lego. (Après qu'il se soit rendu compte du succès potentiel de ses oeuvres notamment via son site).