On social media, Ai has maintained that a toy maker whose mission is to “inspire and develop the builders of tomorrow” should not be able to dictate which materials an independent artist chooses to use in his or her work.
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The first donation point – in the shape of a red auto – was installed outside Ai Weiwei’s studio in Beijing earlier this week, according to the Guardian.
Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei is soliciting Lego brick donations after the toy company refused a bulk order on the grounds that it does not get involved in political issues.
Melbourne donors can drop Lego blocks through the sunroof of a vehicle parked in the National Gallery of Victoria sculpture garden from October 29, ahead of an Ai Weiwei exhibition starting on December 11.
Lego’s policy on the use of its iconic colored building blocks is inconsistent to say the least. Wei Wei was planning a similar piece for the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne this year, but LEGO is apparently less than thrilled by being associated with the highly-political artist.
A LEGO spokesman said the company, the world’s largest toymaker with annual revenues of more than $2 billion, preferred to stay out of politics. The title of the artwork can not incorporate the LEGO trademark. We can not accept that the motive(s) are taken directly from our sales material/copyrighted photo material. “Projects that are not endorsed or supported by the LEGO Group”.
“As a powerful corporation, Lego is an influential cultural and political actor in the globalised economy with questionable values”, Mr Ai said on Instagram on Sunday.
Lego has said it has a long-standing policy not to provide its bricks for works making political statements.
Ai followed with a picture of Lego bricks in a toilet bowl with the caption calling the company’s act one of “censorship and discrimination”.
A 2011 investigation conducted by the Hong Kong-based advocacy group Students & Scholars Against Corporate Misbehaviour found that Lego products were also produced in Chinese factories, along with toys from Mattel, Disney, McDonald’s, and others.
The statement accompanied an image of Lego bricks thrown into a toilet signed with the phrase “R.Mutt”, a throwback to the famous artwork “Fountain” exhibited by French Dada artist, Marcel Duchamp. Commenters on his posts expressed disdain for Lego (“Will never see Lego the same way again after their decision”, said one), and others suggested that Ai’s supporters send him all the bricks he needs.
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Now, London’s Royal Academy, which is currently the location of the artist’s blockbuster retrospective, has announced today that it will become the United Kingdom collection point for Lego donations, as well as Lisson Gallery, which represents the artist’s work, where Lego may be donated by post. His representatives said he would like to “rent, borrow or buy a second-hand BMW 5S Series sedan” to use as a LEGO bucket.
