Book Launch: A New World Rises: Tales of a LEGO® Future
Join LEGO® Masters winners Jackson Harvey and Alex Towler, along with author Cristy Burne, for a Q&A and book signing as they share a LEGO® book like no other. Hosted by Kirsty Lightfoot.
This special event takes place during the free Birthday Book Adventure Family Day at the State Library of Western Australia on 23 August. This is the only ticketed event. Numbers are limited and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Come along and celebrate 80 years of the Children’s Book Council of Australia with a jam-packed day of author and illustrator events, face painting, live storytelling, a costume parade and a thrilling treasure hunt!
About the Book
A New World Rises: Tales of a LEGO® Future
The year is 2130. Humanity’s reign has ended but the world is slowly recovering and showing signs of new life – one brick at a time.
LEGO minifigures have risen from the debris to craft intricate civilisations inside discarded objects – each one inspired by the relic they now call home. Taking storytelling and artistry to new heights, A New World Rises: Tales of a LEGO® Future explores an imagined future, one that might not be as far removed from reality as we think. Step into the future. Discover the past. And inspire your own LEGO worlds.
Authors
Jackson Harvey
Jackson Harvey is a multi-disciplinary artist based in Fremantle, Western Australia. Jackson’s passion in art was encouraged from a young age, with drawing, painting and constructing grand LEGO® structures his usual childhood pastimes. As an adult, he discovered a passion for creating large-scale mural works and their ability to transform spaces. A self-taught aerosol artist, Jackson combines elements from a variety of experiential influences, from his studies in architecture and painting, his decade-long career in tattooing, and contemporary community art projects. His work is characterised by bright, carefully selected colour palettes, and soft, flowing curves contrasted with bold, pixilated textures. Since winning Australian television series LEGO Masters in 2020 with his childhood friend Alex Towler, he has added LEGO building into his art practice. Their first LEGO exhibition together, titled RELICS: Bricks of a New World, was the highest-attended exhibition ever presented. Their following touring exhibition, RELICS: A New World Rises, has since shattered museum attendance records, becoming the highest-attended ticketed exhibition in the 168-year history of the South Australian Museum, and drew over 112,000 visitors during its international debut at the Auckland Museum.
Alex Towler
Alex Towler has always felt torn between the worlds of art and science. Beginning his career as an environmental engineer, he worked predominantly with natural waterways and urban stormwater drainage. He balanced the logical and technical aspects of engineering with his creative passions by forming multiple punk bands with old school friends and making musical noise at local Perth music venues. After finding success on Channel 9’s LEGO® Masters with his long-time friend Jackson Harvey, the duo developed unique sculptural displays that combine LEGO with human artefacts. The creative concept grew into the exhibition RELICS: A New World Rises, which has been touring Australia and New Zealand since 2023.
Cristy Burne
Cristy Burne grew up climbing trees, jumping drains, chasing cows and inventing stories. She has a passion for learning through doing, and loves to inspire creativity, daring and resilience in her readers. Cristy is a children’s author and science writer with degrees in Biotechnology and Science Communication. She has also worked as a science circus performer, garbage analyst, Santa’s pixie and atom-smashing reporter.Cristy Burne’s children’s fiction book, Off the Track, was shortlisted for the 2022 West Australian Young Readers’ Book Award (WAYRBA). Her other titles with Fremantle Press – Into the Blue, Beneath the Trees, and To the Lighthouse – have all been popular with young readers.
