qargo
Japanese genius Masahiro Hara
“Masahiro Hara, I don’t need to introduce him anymore, I’ve talked about him so much before. His extraordinary invention, used by over a billion users worldwide in 2022, has revolutionized our daily lives. Mine especially as an ordinary person, mine especially as an artist. It took me seven months to get in touch with him. Nothing is ever impossible.”
It took almost 7 months of effort for the artist to finally meet the Japanese engineer. A first exchange took place by videoconference on July 5, 2023, followed by another meeting, after 5 months of preparation, on December 2, 2023 in a private room at the Hilton Conrad hotel in Tokyo.
The meeting between qargo and Masahiro Hara was not only an exchange between two creative minds, but also a powerful symbol of the fusion between art and technology. qargo, renowned for its innovative works made from thousands of Lego® bricks, presented Hara with an original portrait of the inventor on the front, and his interactive Lego QR code on the back. Hara expressed his admiration for the unprecedented artistic detour of his invention.
“The qargo project is a striking example of how art and technology can combine to give birth to somethingextraordinarily singular.”
The friendly meeting was marked by impassioned discussions between the engineer and the artist, where every idea exchanged triggered mutual enthusiasm and curiosity. qargo revealed the secrets of its famous “Easter Eggs” hidden within its works, which weave an invisible link between the creations and those who contemplate them. Hara shared information about new generations of QR code generators, which will offer even more artistic possibilities. Hara also expressed his excitement at the prospect of attending the qargo exhibition scheduled for autumn 2024 in Paris or Tokyo.
“This exceptional exchange with a remarkably humble person marks a decisive turning point in my career as an artist,” said French artist qargo.
The highlight of the meeting was the presentation by qargo of an original work of art, number 1 in the collection, a singular artistic tribute to the engineer with a million users worldwide. This dedicated work – depicting Hara’s portrait – elicited admiration and gratitude from the Japanese engineer, testifying to his deep and sincere respect for qargo’s talent.
After checking for himself that the work’s LEGO® QR code worked perfectly, Hara then autographed an XXL version – unfinished at the time – of his portrait.
This exceptional work, a true masterpiece of the collection, made up of 90,000 LEGO® bricks, was completed and unveiled in October 2024, during the 30th anniversary of the QR code, celebrated in Biarritz. The event took on a very special dimension with the presence of Masahiro Hara, who came specially from Japan for the first time in 30 years, to honor this artistic tribute to his invention.
The highlight of the celebration was Masahiro Hara’s masterly lecture, held in the prestigious Palais des Congrès in Biarritz, where the engineer reviewed thehistory and global impact of the QR code to a fascinated audience.
The event also gave rise to a series of exhibitions of some twenty works from the qargo collection in iconic Biarritz locations, including the Palais des Congrès, the Hôtel du Palais and the Casino, before continuing in Paris, with the joint presence of the artist and inventor. This unique encounter between art and technology marked a major milestone in the history of innovation and contemporary creation.
This encounter also sealed a friendship between qargo and Hara, embodying the idea that contemporary art is not limited to aesthetics, but becomes a space for transformation and dialogue. This collaboration, marked by a monumental work, celebrates the human spirit and its potential to innovate and inspire. With qargo and Hara, contemporary art explores new connections between the tangible and the digital, between history and the future.
qargo
Japanese genius Masahiro Hara
“Masahiro Hara, I don’t need to introduce him anymore, I’ve talked about him so much before. His extraordinary invention, used by over a billion users worldwide in 2022, has revolutionized our daily lives. Mine especially as an ordinary person, mine especially as an artist. It took me seven months to get in touch with him. Nothing is ever impossible.”
It took almost 7 months of effort for the artist to finally meet the Japanese engineer. A first exchange took place by videoconference on July 5, 2023, followed by another meeting, after 5 months of preparation, on December 2, 2023 in a private room at the Hilton Conrad hotel in Tokyo.
The meeting between qargo and Masahiro Hara was not only an exchange between two creative minds, but also a powerful symbol of the fusion between art and technology. qargo, renowned for its innovative works made from thousands of Lego® bricks, presented Hara with an original portrait of the inventor on the front, and his interactive Lego QR code on the back. Hara expressed his admiration for the unprecedented artistic detour of his invention.
“The qargo project is a striking example of how art and technology can combine to give birth to somethingextraordinarily singular.”
The friendly meeting was marked by impassioned discussions between the engineer and the artist, where every idea exchanged triggered mutual enthusiasm and curiosity. qargo revealed the secrets of its famous “Easter Eggs” hidden within its works, which weave an invisible link between the creations and those who contemplate them. Hara shared information about new generations of QR code generators, which will offer even more artistic possibilities. Hara also expressed his excitement at the prospect of attending the qargo exhibition scheduled for autumn 2024 in Paris or Tokyo.
“This exceptional exchange with a remarkably humble person marks a decisive turning point in my career as an artist,” said French artist qargo.
The highlight of the meeting was the presentation by qargo of an original work of art, number 1 in the collection, a singular artistic tribute to the engineer with a million users worldwide. This dedicated work – depicting Hara’s portrait – elicited admiration and gratitude from the Japanese engineer, testifying to his deep and sincere respect for qargo’s talent.
After checking for himself that the work’s LEGO® QR code worked perfectly, Hara then autographed an XXL version – unfinished at the time – of his portrait.
This exceptional work, a true masterpiece of the collection, made up of 90,000 LEGO® bricks, was completed and unveiled in October 2024, during the 30th anniversary of the QR code, celebrated in Biarritz. The event took on a very special dimension with the presence of Masahiro Hara, who came specially from Japan for the first time in 30 years, to honor this artistic tribute to his invention.
The highlight of the celebration was Masahiro Hara’s masterly lecture, held in the prestigious Palais des Congrès in Biarritz, where the engineer reviewed thehistory and global impact of the QR code to a fascinated audience.
The event also gave rise to a series of exhibitions of some twenty works from the qargo collection in iconic Biarritz locations, including the Palais des Congrès, the Hôtel du Palais and the Casino, before continuing in Paris, with the joint presence of the artist and inventor. This unique encounter between art and technology marked a major milestone in the history of innovation and contemporary creation.
This encounter also sealed a friendship between qargo and Hara, embodying the idea that contemporary art is not limited to aesthetics, but becomes a space for transformation and dialogue. This collaboration, marked by a monumental work, celebrates the human spirit and its potential to innovate and inspire. With qargo and Hara, contemporary art explores new connections between the tangible and the digital, between history and the future.
qargo
The complete collection
qargo
The collection
“The front reveals the celebrity, the back its story with the QR code.”
