Lego has refused to send Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei a bulk order of its toy bricks, the artist claims, because it “cannot approve the use of Legos for political works.” Ai Weiwei, a vocal opponent of the Chinese government's iron-fisted censorship, wrote on Instagram Friday that he had planned to use the Legos in a piece on free speech called "Andy Warhol / Ai Weiwei" for display later this year in Australia's National Gallery of Victoria, which placed the Lego order for him. Just weeks after Lego denied his order in September, he noted, the Danish toy company announced plans to open a new Legoland theme park in Shanghai. 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." 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."
A photo posted by Ai Weiwei (@aiww) on Oct 23, 2015 at 6:04am PDT The artist quickly denounced Lego for censoring political work. "As a powerful corporation, Lego is an influential cultural and political actor in the globalized economy with questionable values," he wrote in a second post on Saturday showing the toy bricks in a toilet. "Lego's refusal to sell its product to the artist is an act of censorship and discrimination." "/LEGO_Group) In June 2015 Ai Weiwei Studio began to design artworks which would have required a large quantity of Lego bricks to produce. The works were planned for the exhibition "Andy Warhol / Ai Weiwei" at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne, Australia, to open in December 2015. The artworks' concept relates to freedom of speech. The museum's curatorial team contacted Lego to place a bulk order and received Lego's reply via email on 12 September 2015: "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. In this connection, the LEGO Group would like to draw your attention to the following: 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." Ai Weiwei Studio was informed by NGV about Lego's rejection of the bulk order. As a commercial entity, Lego produces and sells toys, movies and amusement parks attracting children across the globe.
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. A photo posted by Ai Weiwei (@aiww) on Oct 24, 2015 at 3:14pm PDT Lego spokesman Roar Rude Trangbæk told The Huffington Post in an email that he could not comment on the company's dialogue with individual customers but that it avoids "actively engaging" in political works by supplying bulk orders: 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. 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.
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, but as a company, we choose to refrain from actively engaging in these activities – through for example bulk purchase. A number of Ai's supporters are already helping the artist get around the company's policy by sending him Legos and encouraging others to do so on social media, The Guardian noted. LEGO won't support @aiww, label his art "political".James wants to send lego to @aiww to make his brilliant art. /mqopJNj5Jd— Jacqueline Who (@jacqueline_who) October 25, 2015
.@LEGO_Group this is about 10% of our #Lego collection. We won't be buying more. @aiww you're welcome to borrow it. /6mcq8RwXu3— Dave Hall (@skwashd) October 25, 2015 @aiww use mine, more than happy to make it. /ouC66A6CwZ— Wu Tun 吴吞 (@wu_tun) October 25, 2015 Love how many Twitter peeps are suggesting to donate #LEGO pieces to @aiww for his art when the company refused his request for a bulk order— Ai Weiwei Film (@AWWNeverSorry) October 24, 2015Store Dedicated to Buying and Selling Lego Parts Opens in Reno - KTVN Channel 2 - Reno Tahoe Sparks News, Weather, Video Store Dedicated to Buying and Selling Lego Parts Opens in Reno wnRenderDate('Saturday, January 28, 2017 9:05 PM EST', '', false); wnRenderDate('Monday, February 27, 2017 9:54 PM EST', '', false); On Saturday, a store made for Lego lovers held its grand opening celebration in south Reno. Bricks and Minifigs is a one stop shop to buy, sell and trade Lego parts and pieces.John Masek, the president and CEO of the company, turned what was just a small store in Oregon, into a franchise that spreads across 26 different states.“
I mean it was just like wildfire, people were loving it, we were getting families and older people and middle aged, it attracted so many people that we never would’ve expected," says Masek.Masek says Bricks and Minifigs isn't a mass market store, meaning when people come to buy, trade or sell, they’ll find more than just new sets of Legos.“What we really try to focus on are used sets all the thousands of mini figures, just loose bulk parts, all the things that people really want in order to make their own things special,” says Masek.The new store is not just the first of its kind in Reno, but also the first in entire state of Nevada.The business is located at 18180 Wedge Pkwy. The Senate has confirmed former Texas Gov. Rick Perry to serve as energy secretary under President Donald Trump. The vote was 62-37 on Thursday. The Senate has confirmed former Texas Gov. Rick Perry to serve as energy secretary under President Donald Trump. The vote was 62-37 on Thursday.A state lawmaker is proposing Nevada give cities and counties the explicit ability to shut down hotels where prostitution arrests are repeatedly made.
A state lawmaker is proposing Nevada give cities and counties the explicit ability to shut down hotels where prostitution arrests are repeatedly made.Sadly, Channel 2 News has been informed by friends and family that Kristen Yamaoka has been found dead. Sadly, Channel 2 New has been informed by friends and family that Kristen Yamaoka has been found dead. From Carson City: Sean Slamon of Modesto, California has been selected by City Manager Nick Marano, as Carson City’s new Fire Chief. From Carson City: Sean Slamon of Modesto, California has been selected by City Manager Nick Marano, as Carson City’s new Fire Chief. The Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District will permit open burning beginning March 4. Open burning will be allowed, with a current burn permit, until TMFPD determines it is unsafe for open burning to continue within the District. Open burning will be allowed, with a current burn permit, until TMFPD determines it is unsafe for open burning to continue within the District.