Lego and QR codes - qargo reinvents art

Can Lego and QR codes merge to create works of art? Yes, and that’s precisely what qargo does, a contemporary artist who reinvents portraiture by blending art, technology and interactivity. Through his creations, he offers a unique artistic experience that transports viewers into a universe where the real and the virtual merge. Economie-Matin – September 17, 2024 – full article here.

Born of a passion for pixels, Lego and QR codes, qargo has forged a singular path in the art world. A former entrepreneur in French Tech, he decided to turn his back on the startup world to devote himself fully to art. And what a transformation! Today, qargo is a figure of art 3.0, an artist who, piece by piece, pixel by pixel, tells visual stories of astonishing precision.

With each mosaic he creates, thousands of tiny Lego bricks come together to form the portraits of iconic personalities. On the front, you discover the face of a celebrity; on the back, an equally fascinating QR code, also in Lego. But it’s not just an ordinary code. Once scanned, it reveals information, anecdotes and even a hidden Easter Egg, a nod to the personal history of the celebrity represented. Thanks to this approach, art becomes an interactive adventure, a game between the work and the viewer.

The Q ART code: a unique artistic experience

On December 2, 2023, Qargo met Masahiro Hara, inventor of the QR code, in Tokyo. This meeting, immortalized by the presentation of a Lego portrait of Hara, was the starting point for a new phase in the artist’s career. Thanks to this exchange, qargo perfected its concept of the Q ART code, a QR code transformed into a work of art.

This code becomes a bridge between the physical and digital worlds, offering an immersive experience where the work comes to life in new dimensions. “I don’t believe in chance, but in the power of intention and creation”, says qargo. For him, the QR code is more than a digital tool, it’s a powerful means of communication, a vector ofemotions and stories.

qargo’s work does not stop at simply reproducing images. His art is a visual narrative, a sincere expression of profound values such as resilience, audacity and perseverance. By combining pixels and Lego, qargo tells the personal stories of the figures he represents. Each pixel is a little piece of emotion, each Lego brick a fragment of a personality. “Pixels transform ideas into images, and images into emotions,” explains the artist.

What makes qargo’s art even more captivating is the playful dimension he brings to his creations. Each work conceals an Easter Egg, a secret brick hidden in the QR code. Inspired by the video games of his childhood, qargo uses these Easter Eggs to further engage his audience, by creating a permanent thread. “A single pixel contains a hidden message,” he explains, inviting viewers on a real treasure hunt.