Level Up

Level Up reimagines Tifa from Final Fantasy VII as a physical sculpture constructed from approximately 1,000 individual 1.5" × 1.5" maple wood blocks.

The work explores the evolution of video game graphics and the extraordinary technological journey from simple pixels and polygons to the highly detailed digital characters of today. Each wooden block functions as a physical building block of the image, transforming Tifa into a three-dimensional interpretation of the visual language that defined an earlier generation of gaming.

From a distance, the individual blocks merge into a recognizable figure. As the viewer moves closer, the image breaks apart, revealing hundreds of separate pieces and the craftsmanship required to construct it. This shift in perspective mirrors the evolution of video game graphics itself: what once appeared remarkably detailed on a screen can now look wonderfully primitive when viewed through the lens of modern technology.

The choice of maple wood adds another dimension to the piece. The natural grain, warmth, and imperfections of the material contrast with the precise, synthetic nature of digital imagery. A character born from pixels and polygons has been translated into something tactile, permanent, and unmistakably physical.

Tifa was chosen from Final Fantasy VII as a recognizable symbol of the era when video games were making a dramatic leap into three-dimensional worlds. Level Up looks backward at that technological milestone while simultaneously celebrating how far the medium has progressed.

Ultimately, the sculpture is about more than a video game character. It is about progress, nostalgia, and the constant evolution of technology—a physical reminder that even the most sophisticated digital worlds are built from simple pieces, assembled one step at a time.

26" x 20" x 16"

January, 2026. Maple blocks with stainless steel rods.