Lego refused to sell Ai Weiwei bricks for Australia art exhibit

BY ADARIO STRANGE

Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei is known as much for his art as his politics, and that is exactly why his latest work, which was to use Lego bricks as a centerpiece, may not come to be.

It turns out that Lego doesn’t want to have its iconic bricks mired in any of the politics associated with Ai's work, according to an Instagram post from the artist on Friday.

SEE ALSO: Ai Weiwei attacks Chinese government on Instagram as president visits UK

The artwork in question was scheduled to be put on display at the National Gallery of Victoria in Australia. But Ai says Lego wants no part of it.

“In September Lego refused Ai Weiwei Studio's request for a bulk order of Legos to create artwork to be shown at the National Gallery of Victoria as 'they cannot approve the use of Legos for political works,'” reads the post on Ai's Instagram account.

Then, in what appears to be a commentary on Lego’s policy toward China in general, the Instagram post states, “On Oct 21, a British firm formally announced that it will open a new Legoland in Shanghai as one of the many deals of the U.K.-China ‘Golden Era.’” The new Shanghai project is supported in part by state-backed investment fund CMC Capital Partners.

Ai has used Lego bricks in the past to create politically-charged artwork, so this latest apparent denial of service is puzzling to many of the artist’s fans.

"While we by principle cannot comment on the dialogue we have with our customers, partners, consumers or other stakeholders, I would like to clarify that we respect any individuals’ right to free creative expression," Roar Trangbaek, press officer the Lego Group told Mashable.

"We acknowledge, that LEGO bricks today are used globally by millions of fans, adults, children and artists as a creative medium to express their imagination and creativity in many different ways. Projects that are not endorsed or supported by the Lego Group," says Trangbaek. "However, as a company dedicated to delivering great creative play experiences to children,

we refrain, on a global level, from actively engaging in in or endorsing the use of Lego bricks in projects or contexts of a political agenda

we refrain, on a global level, from actively engaging in in or endorsing the use of Lego bricks in projects or contexts of a political agenda. This principle is not new."

That explains the desire to avoid political issues, but what about Ai's claim that Lego simply wouldn't sell him bulk materials?

"In cases where we receive requests for donations or support for projects, such as the possibility of purchasing Lego bricks in large quantities, where we are made aware that there is a political context, we therefore kindly decline support," says Trangbaek.

"Any individual person can naturally purchase or get access to LEGO bricks in other ways to create their LEGO projects if they desire to do so, but as a company, we choose to refrain from engaging in these activities, through for example bulk purchase."

Trangbaek's carefully worded response may sound fairly reasonable on a corporate level, but it isn't likely to quiet the outcry from a number of social media users criticizing Lego for its stance.

Jonathan Haynes 

✔@JonathanHaynes

Lego not wanting its bricks to be used to make a political message … refusing to sell Ai Weiwei your bricks is itself a political message.

And, as of this writing, some have even begun referring to the episode as "#Legogate" on social media. However, based on Lego's statements today, it doesn't appear likely that the company will reverse its stance.

http://mashable.com/2015/10/24/lego-ai-weiwei/#04hUW7NY1iq.