Chinese artist Ai Weiwei gestures prior to a press conference at the University of Fine Arts in Berlin on October 26, 2015. (AFP Photo)
Ai Weiwei needs your LEGOs.
The outspoken Chinese artist - famous in China for using his art to campaign for democracy and free speech - said on social media over the weekend that LEGO declined a recent order request because "they cannot approve the use of LEGOs for political works." Ai wanted the tiny toy bricks for an art installation he was creating to recognize Australian activists' fight for human rights. It was to be shown in December at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne, Australia.
Since Ai's plan was thwarted, he has come up with a new one - one centered on "political art," he said, with help from fans and fellow artists who have promised LEGO donations.
"In response to LEGO's refusal and the overwhelming public response, Ai Weiwei has now decided to make a new work to defend freedom of speech and 'political art,'" according to his Instagram.
Ai said on social media that the National Gallery of Victoria reached out to the Danish toy maker over the summer to place a "bulk order" of LEGOs so he could start on his installation for the upcoming exhibition called "Andy Warhol/Ai Weiwei." A spokeswoman for the museum told Australian Broadcasting Corporation that he needed the LEGOs for a "room scale installation."
But in September, Ai said, LEGO refused to sell.
According to Ai's Instagram, the e-mail stated:
We regret to inform you that it is against our corporate policy to indicate our approval of any unaffiliated activities outside the LEGO licensing program. However, we realize that artists may have an interest in using LEGO elements, or casts hereof, as an integrated part of their piece of art.
The LEGO trademark cannot be used commercially in any way to promote, or name, the art work.
The title of the artwork cannot incorporate the LEGO trademark.
We cannot accept that the motive(s) are taken directly from our sales material/copyrighted photo material.
The motive(s) cannot contain any political, religious, racist, obscene or defaming statements.
It must be clear to the public that the LEGO Group has not sponsored or endorsed the art work/project.
Therefore I am very sorry to let you know that we are not in a position to support the exhibition Andy Warhol | Ai Weiwei by supplying the bulk order.
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Ai posted the purported e-mail along with a portrait of a LEGO-filled potty.
"As a commercial entity, LEGO produces and sells toys, movies and amusement parks attracting children across the globe," Ai wrote. "As a powerful corporation, LEGO is an influential cultural and political actor in the globalized economy with questionable values.
"LEGO's refusal to sell its product to the artist is an act of censorship and discrimination."
Ai and National Gallery of Victoria were not immediately available for comment.
Ai said LEGO's position "triggered a torrent of outrage on social media against this assault on creativity and freedom of expression" over the weekend. By Sunday, people wanted to know how to donate the plastic pieces. Ai told them his studio would announce LEGO collection points in certain cities.
LEGO spokesperson Roar Rude Trangbaek declined to comment on Ai's situation but said "we respect any individuals' right to free creative expression."
Trangbaek said in a statement to The Washington Post that LEGO does not "censor, prohibit or ban creative use of LEGO bricks," nor does it endorse projects.
"We refrain - on a global level - from actively engaging in or endorsing the use of LEGO bricks in projects or contexts of a political agenda. This principle is not new. In cases where we receive requests for donations or support for projects - such as the possibility of purchasing LEGO bricks in very large quantities, which is not possible through normal sales channels - where we are made aware that there is a political context, we therefore kindly decline support.
"Any individual person can naturally purchase LEGO bricks through normal sales channels or get access to LEGO bricks in other ways to create their LEGO projects if they desire to do so."
That's precisely what Ai intends to do - find "other ways."
The artist posted "LEGO collection point instruction points" on Instagram on Monday afternoon. His representatives said he would like to "rent, borrow or buy a second-hand BMW 5S Series sedan" to use as a LEGO bucket. The car must have a sunroof that can be cracked open so donors can drop the blocks inside. It will be parked - and locked - in certain cities.
© 2015 The Washington Post