Tag Archives: liminal spaces

Liminal LEGO horror is in bloom

Japanese builder Pan Noda is a master at crafting liminal spaces in LEGO. From ancient ruins to cursed malls to surreal swimming pools, their worlds make the familiar look strange or even haunted. Controlled depth of field and a lack of minifigs make scale confounding and dreamlike. Pan Noda’s latest takes one of the most cheerful LEGO elements, the magenta flower with shaft found in so many kid sets and pick-a-brick-bins, and creates one of their most cursed scenes to date. Titled “A Field of Mocking Flowers,” a column rises from an endless field, a smiling face seen in negative space. Is there a structure beneath the blooms that happens to have a face, or is this the visage of some floral hive-mind? Are the boardwalks there to protect the flowers from pedestrian feet, or are they to protect us from this malevolent magenta force?

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LEGO spaces, with a lowercase S

For me, one of the hallmarks of a great LEGO builder is their ability to create a space. And not just any space, but one with detail, purpose, and a story. Alex Eylar shows their skill in the medium with this great pair of brick-build “rooms.” First up, we have an almost-liminal hallway scene, absolutely intended to give the viewer a case of the spooks. Something about the abandoned flashlight and the burnt-out fluorescent send chills up my spine.

Next up, and far less creepy, this den acts more as a carefully constructed ode to it’s owner, Gregory. From the décor, it’s easy to peer into the life of this sophisticated gentleman: one of billiards, music, and relaxation.

Finding oneself in LEGO liminality

There’s something a bit off in this LEGO setting devised by Pan Noda. The intentionally-grainy shot of this brick-built mall food court definitely gives a Backrooms vibe. In a space typically characterized by the bustle of shoppers, the smell of fast food, and the occasional offer of a free sample, the stillness that occurs after hours sure can send a shiver down your spine. It’s hard not to wonder what could be hiding behind a pillar or counter. In fact, maybe it’s best to just get out of here… if I still can.

And if you’re up for more spatial and architectural wonders by Pan Noda, be sure to check out the TBB archives.