I Burn for You - Bent Metal
“I Burn for You” is a striking and provocative sculpture cast in the familiar silhouette of a LEGO mini figure—an icon of childhood innocence, imagination, and construction. But this figure burns not with playfulness, but with protest.
Inspired by the 2014 breakup between LEGO and Shell following public outcry over Shell’s environmental record—particularly in light of devastating oil spills—this piece reimagines the LEGO man as both a symbol of complicity and a victim of consequence. Formed from melted and reconstituted plastic, the figure stands engulfed in a painterly blaze, echoing the fiery aftermath of environmental disaster. The title speaks with a dual voice: a whisper of romantic betrayal and a roar of ecological urgency.
This work critiques the toxic entanglements between beloved brands and fossil fuel corporations. It asks: what legacy do we build when our toys—our tools of childhood creativity—are sponsored by those who destroy the very world they will inherit?
In “I Burn for You,” nostalgia melts into reckoning. The figure doesn’t just burn—it mourns, indicts, and demands we play differently.
Materials: multiple unique collectible/recycled LEGO pieces framed in a bent alumimum frame and plexiglass front protector.
Dimensions: 17”x 14″x 4″
Limited edition of 10. Though each piece is truly unique due to toys used.