WorkArt & Culture

Miniature concrete sculptures of Brutalist structures can be used like grown-up LEGO

This series of concrete sculptures by Canadian architect and sculptor, David Umemoto, draws parallels with the fundamental attributes associated with Brutalist architecture. His work has been described as 'primitivism', as the concrete could be identified with ancient constructions. With the recent resurgence in popularity for the enduring building material, the sculptures appear to have spanned a large passing of time.

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Interlocking concrete modular sculpture with geometric forms and a central staircase, demonstrating David Umemoto's Brutalist-inspired building block system

Umemoto's artistic approach is highly regulated, coded and rigorous. Each one of his creations seamlessly fits into a conceptual and constructive system. In this system, each work of art is decomposed into modular sections that can then be reorganised and reused to create new works.

Each 'module' can be interconnected physically and conceptually. In this organic process, each work – although unique – finds itself composed in whole, or in part, by elements of previous or subsequent works. Therefore the use of techniques for creating 'multiples' – such as printmaking, casting or moulding – to create unique pieces is essential to Umemoto's approach.

The artist holds a Bachelor of Architecture from the School of Architecture of Université Laval. Over the past 15 years, he has worked on many international projects spanning the fields of art, design and architecture. In 2010 he spent a year in Asia to develop his skills and experiment in woodworking, engraving, sculpture and metal casting techniques. This provided creative fuel for his current project. To find out more, visit davidumemoto.com.

Stacked concrete and white modular sculpture by David Umemoto featuring geometric forms, staircases and cutout windows arranged in a towering Brutalist composition
Modular concrete sculptural form by David Umemoto combining geometric blocks with stacked linear elements arranged vertically to demonstrate interconnecting components
Stacked concrete sculpture with geometric cutouts and internal textures by David Umemoto, demonstrating modular Brutalist design principles
Stacked concrete module sculpture by David Umemoto with interlocking geometric blocks in shades of grey and white, featuring hollow openings and recessed sections throughout its tower-like form
Stacked concrete sculptural modules in white and grey with angular cutouts and recessed sections, resembling a miniature Brutalist building
Stacked concrete sculpture by David Umemoto with geometric sections in cream and dark grey, featuring protruding elements and rectangular voids throughout
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