When a LEGO sculpture can capture emotion, dynamism, and organic shapes without exposing how the pieces hold together, it’s nothing short of magic. Sakiya Watanabe (N.A.B.E_mocs) is truly a sorcerer of bricks, as demonstrated by his latest sculpture of the storm god Fujin. There are so many inspired parts in the head alone – raptor jaws for ears,  bigfig fists for cheeks, Balin’s hairpiece for the chin. I can’t even begin to figure out how that hair holds together.

Sakiya based his design on the famous Fujin and Raijin painted screen by Tawaraya Sōtatsu, a national treasure from the Edo period, displayed in Kyoto.

The magnificent and monstrous Fujin follows another character model that Sakiya constructed just in time for Japan Brickfest last month. “Aria, the Spirit of Melody” is an original creation that pairs the fairy with a wooden branch in the shape of a musical horn. Once again, the builder works magic at jigsawing unlikely parts together in organic ways. In the wood I can see a playground slide, snow shoes, and a tree costume, but the crowning NPU has to be the Belville saddle for Aria’s hair.  The  nearby sprites are a purely Dreamzzz invention, pairing Grimspawn bodies with the eyes of Iizzie’s Narwhal.

Aria made her debut at Japan Brickfest… just barely! Sakiya had to put on the finishing touches in his hotel room the night before the event.

Visitors at Japan Brickfest were lucky to see Sakiya’s works in person as the builder marked his MOC building debut with own table. Hey, that interview image looks familiar…. Oh, right! You can read it here.