Polish Language Blog
Menu
Search

Lego Concentration Camp Posted by on Jan 8, 2012 in Culture

The Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw has caused something of a stir by purchasing the controversial ‘Lego Concentration Camp’ set designed by artist Zbigniew Libera. 

Reports in Fakt state that the museum bought the set from a private art collector in Norway for EUR 55,000 and plans on making it one of its main exhibits later in the year.

The set features a number of objects associated with death camps such as watchtowers, electric fencing and even a mock ‘shower block’ – which the Nazis famously used to disguise their gas chambers.

Adding to the controversy is the inclusion of the LEGO logo on the boxes which feature the statement “This work of Zbigniew Libera has been sponsored by LEGO SYSTEM”.

However the toy manufacturer has denied all links with the set, despite reportedly sending the pieces to the artist for free.

“I understand that Lego must defend its good name, but this is not a product being offered in a store,” said Libera at the time, regarding the manufacturer position. “This is censorship all over again, I created this work to inspire discussion, not to suppress it.”

But despite the delicate nature of the piece, the Museum of Modern Art claims that the set is “one of the most important works of contemporary Polish art” and in 2002, it was also featured as part of New York’s Jewish Museum’s exhibition entitled Mirroring Evil: Nazi Imagery/Recent Art.

Born in Pabiance in 1959, Libera is no stranger to criticism. Pieces such as his 1984 ‘Mystical Rituals’ film – in which he documented his ill and bed-ridden 90 year-old grandmother – have made him a talking point in the past.

I personally have nothing against this in the museum, but definitely would not buy anything like that for my kids…

What is your opinion?

Do następnego razu… (Till next time…)

Keep learning Polish with us!

Build vocabulary, practice pronunciation, and more with Transparent Language Online. Available anytime, anywhere, on any device.

Try it Free Find it at your Library
Share this:
Pin it

About the Author: Kasia

My name is Kasia Scontsas. I grew near Lublin, Poland and moved to Warsaw to study International Business. I have passion for languages: any languages! Currently I live in New Hampshire. I enjoy skiing, kayaking, biking and paddle boarding. My husband speaks a little Polish, but our daughters are fluent in it! I wanted to make sure that they can communicate with their Polish relatives in our native language. Teaching them Polish since they were born was the best thing I could have given them! I have been writing about learning Polish language and culture for Transparent Language’s Polish Blog since 2010.


Comments:

  1. Kuba:

    Don’t buy it. There are plenty of issues related to the camps located in Poland. They are not Polish and never were. I am on Polish Media Issues list and we fight his change in history every day. We welcome anyone wanting to correct the information that is published by various media outlets.

  2. John kantek:

    Mixed feeling on this one !!!!!yes its important to remember what happened in poland 1939-45 with the camps.
    No ,,,,,its not a toy or a play toy to make light of this issue !!!!!

  3. Tony Koziol:

    Is this really a “toy” available for general sale, or just a so-called piece of “artwork?”In any case Lego should be ashamed of itself for lending it’s name to this abomination!