Ai Weiwei’s Lego re-imagining of Monet’s water lilies to go on show in London

Ai Weiwei’s re-imagining of Monet's Water Lilies in Lego, at the Design Museum, London. Photograph: David Levene/The Guardian

Claude Monet’s monumental triptych Water Lilies 1914 -26, which depicts nature’s tranquil beauty as part of the French impressionist’s world-famous series, will take on new meaning in a giant recreation by artist and activist Ai Weiwei in his new London exhibition.

Monet’s brushstrokes in his water and reflection landscapes are replaced by about 650,000 studs of Lego bricks, in 22 vivid colours, in the 15-metre-long work at the centre of Weiwei’s biggest UK show in eight years, opening next month.