Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei has been inundated with Lego brick donation offers after the Danish toy maker refused a request for a bulk order of the plastic toys on political grounds. On Friday, the artist said Lego refused his studio’s request for an order to create an artwork about free speech to be shown at the National Gallery of Victoria in Australia for an Andy Warhol/Ai Weiwei exhibition in December. In an Instagram post, the artist said Lego told him “they cannot approve the use of Legos for political works” and he later called the decision “an act of censorship and discrimination”. The refusal prompted an outcry on social media, with many offering their own Lego blocks to complete his installation, some using the hashtag #legosforweiwei. I say we all donate our #LEGO to @aiww. Lego ban Ai Weiwei from using their bricks in his art. LEGO won't support @aiww, label his art "political".James wants to send lego to @aiww to make his brilliant art.
.@LEGO_Group this is about 10% of our #Lego collection. We won't be buying more. @aiww you're welcome to borrow it. @aiww use mine, more than happy to make it. Others used their Lego to make a political statement of their own. Dear @LEGO_Group, I read that you want to inspire and develop the builders of tomorrow. I have found your man! The artist took to Instagram and Twitter again on Saturday, including a lengthy statement calling the decision “an act of censorship and discrimination.” A picture of a toilet filled with the toy blocks and signed “R. Mutt 2015” – a reference to Marcel Duchamp’s 1917 “Fountain” – accompanied the post. The artist also posted a photo of Lego’s 1961 patent for the “toy building brick” as well as a photo of the patent for “Kiddicraft”, one of Lego’s predecessors, prompting some to speculate the artist plans to make his own bricks. He included the text of an email sent to the National Gallery of Victoria’s curatorial team on 12 September saying any work using the pieces could not “contain any political, religious, racist, obscene or defaming statements”.
But many social media users have been quick to point to examples of where Lego has been used in a political context, including in official events. Copenhagen 2008: @LEGO_Group gave bricks for public art project so we could build anything. Other users played on the artist’s own work, expressing their defiance by extending their middle fingers at Lego stores, or making the gesture out of Lego bricks. In the past, a series of photographs by the artist featured him giving the middle finger in front of the White House, Eiffel tower and in Tiananmen square. In an email to the Guardian, Lego confirmed the order had been rejected on political grounds but said the principle “is not new”. Lego spokesman Roar Rude Trangbæk said: “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.”
“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.” Lego also clarified that Legoland parks were sold to British firm Merlin Entertainments 10 years ago. Ai Weiwei’s post to Instagram on Friday implied Lego had refused in order to protect its commercial interests in the China. Welcome to Citizen Brick Congratulations on finding your way to Citizen Brick, home of the finest custom printed LEGO items around. We offer truly unique products for the LEGO fan looking for something a little off the beaten path. Whether shopping for the perfect one-of-a-kind gift, or just something for your own collection, Citizen Brick has the solution! Why are Citizen Brick products so awesome? Well, it starts with the freshest ingredients.. We use authentic LEGO and LEGO-compatible parts, and print in-house at our Chicago print shop.
Other sites claim to print on LEGO, but only Citizen Brick uses authentic pad printing – the same process used to create factory-made LEGO products. We use toy-safe, medical grade inks that are tough enough to stand up to years of play. An Ape's Place: A Safe Place for Space Apes The Citizen Brick Center for the Performing Arts Meet Citizen Brick Issue 2: Master Photographer, CB Kits Designer, and Beard Enthusiast Bryan McLean Posted August 26, 2015 We spend a good amount of time making sure our product is not just the very best quality available, but that it looks cool. Enter Bryan, genius photographer to the plastic stars. When he's not making our custom figs look... Meet Citizen Brick Issue 1: Master of Printing, Color Genius, and Production Manager, Ashley Zenner Posted July 20, 2015 It might surprise you to drop in on the Citizen Brick HQ. The space is smallish, and most surfaces are covered with Lego. From the back of the room comes the soft white rumble of an air compressor.