Mindenki Ai Weiwei-nek akarja adni az építőkockáit, kivéve a Lego

A Lego azzal az indokkal utasította vissza Ai kérését, hogy semmilyen politikai ügybe nem szeretnének belekeveredni. Az eset érdekessége, hogy a múlt héten, amikor a kínai elnök Londonban látogatott, bejelentették, hogy Shanghaiban Legoland kalandparkot nyitnak.

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

Ai később kiposztolt az Instagramjára egy képet, ahogy a wécé önt néhány kockát, mellé pedig kiírta a Lego egyik mondását: “azért vagyunk itt, hogy a jövő építőit ösztönözzük és fejlesszük.”

"We're here to inspire and develop the builders of tomorrow" (twitter.com/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

Ai egyébként egy ausztrál kiállításra készül, a Time szerint Andy Warhollal közösen. És úgy néz ki, Lego kockái is lesznek, a Twitteren spontán gyűjtés indult, természetesen hashtaggel együtt, #legosforweiwei, vagyis Lego-k Weiwei-nek.

“Lego, ez a készletünk tíz százaléka, többet nem fogunk vásárolni. Ai, szívesen kölcsönadjuk.”

.@LEGO_Group this is about 10% of our #Lego collection. We won't be buying more. @aiww you're welcome to borrow it. pic.twitter.com/6mcq8RwXu3

— Dave Hall (@skwashd) October 25, 2015

“A Lego nem akar segíteni a politikai okok miatt. James azonban szeretné elküldeni ezt a nagyszerű művésznek.”

LEGO won't support @aiww, label his art "political".James wants to send lego to @aiww to make his brilliant art. pic.twitter.com/mqopJNj5Jd

— Jacqueline Who (@jacqueline_who) October 25, 2015

A kínai alkotóművész szintén a Twitteren reagált, meg fogja találni annak a módját, hogy eljussanak hozzá a felajánlások.