# Salvador Dalí’s Melting Clocks Reimagined as 3D LEGO Diorama A fan-designed LEGO Ideas project brings Surrealist art to life through intricate brick construction. - **Source:** [Yanko Design](https://brifing.si/source/41d28791-ef47-4e0b-a40a-2a5efca0c11b) - **Published:** 2026-11-04 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/596eb9dd-e54d-43c4-a676-eeda3c9deb74 ## Surrealism Meets Plastic Bricks The LEGO Ideas project by BrickRelativity transforms Salvador Dalí’s 1931 masterpiece, The Persistence of Memory, into a three-dimensional diorama. This build features the iconic melting clocks, the sleeping figure, and the ant-covered watch. It follows the precedent set by previous museum-inspired sets, such as the official LEGO Starry Night collaboration with MoMA. ## Engineering Soft Forms Replicating shapeless, melting forms with rigid plastic bricks presented a significant technical challenge for the designer. The central blob and warping clock faces were constructed using tile grids that bend along the surface. This technique creates a visual effect reminiscent of graph paper distorting under heat, successfully mimicking the painting’s fluid aesthetic. ## Intricate Clock Construction Each of the three clocks utilizes unique construction tricks to convey the melting effect. One clock hangs over a tree branch with pearl-silver bezels, while another features pearl-gold tube elements that kink around corners. The third clock drapes over the sleeping figure, with numerals applied as decals directly onto the curved LEGO surfaces. ## Detailing the Surreal Landscape The background avoids printed backdrops, opting instead for horizontal bands of blue, aqua, and sunset-yellow plates to build the sky. The Cap de Creus cliffs are rendered using stepped wedges and slopes at varying depths. Dark brown tiles and exposed studs create a textured beach surface, adding depth to the overall composition. ## Minifigures and Gallery Aesthetics The diorama includes a tiny Salvador Dalí minifigure, complete with his signature upturned mustache and a miniature easel. A black display base and a gallery plaque provide a professional, museum-ready appearance. This design choice mirrors the inclusion of the Van Gogh minifigure found in the official LEGO Starry Night set released in 2022. ## The Path to Production To become an official LEGO set, the project must reach 10,000 supporters on the LEGO Ideas platform. Currently, it has 1,849 supporters with 602 days remaining to hit the next milestone. Any commercial release would require formal approval from the Fundació Gala-Salvador Dalí, which manages the artist’s copyright and intellectual property rights. ## Broader Museum Energy Trend Fan builders are increasingly focusing on high-art subjects, evidenced by a 1,117-piece Picasso portrait and other Surrealist submissions. This trend reflects a growing demand for sophisticated, display-oriented sets that bridge the gap between classic fine art and modern construction toys. LEGO Art has already successfully explored works by Hokusai, Van Gogh, and Monet. ## Artistic Legacy and Innovation Dalí himself explored the disintegration of his work in his 1954 sequel painting, making this brick-based interpretation a fitting tribute. By utilizing advanced perspective tricks and complex geometry, the project demonstrates how classic art can be reinterpreted through modern media. It stands as a testament to the creative potential of the LEGO community. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.yankodesign.com/2026/11/03/salvador-dalis-melting-clocks-are-now-a-3d-lego-diorama-ants-included/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=salvador-dalis-melting-clocks-are-now-a-3d-lego-diorama-ants-included — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._