Death Camp LEGO set in Warsaw

6th January 2012

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.