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Post by IggyWiggy on Oct 26, 2015 19:50:22 GMT
 Artist Ai Weiwei is setting up "Lego collection points" in different cities after being inundated with offers of donations from supporters. Ai has accused Lego of "censorship and discrimination" after it refused his bulk order for bricks for a new exhibition in Melbourne, Australia. Lego said it has never sold directly to anyone wanting to use its product to make a political statement. The artist will now use the donated toy bricks to make a "new work". "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'," said a post on the artist's Instagram account on Monday. "Ai Weiwei Studio will announce the project description and Lego collection points in different cities. This is the first phase of the coming projects." Further posts pictured a red car labelled, "the first Lego container", and a photo of Lego bricks inside the car, accompanied by the words, "the morning droppings".  Ai used Lego last year to create portraits of 175 dissident figures who had been jailed or exiled, from Nelson Mandela to Edward Snowden, on the site of the former Alcatraz prison near San Francisco. He planned a similar work for the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne, but a bulk order placed by the museum was rejected by the Danish company. The Chinese artist said the company told the museum its bricks could not be used for artworks containing "any political, religious, racist, obscene or defaming statements". Referring to The Lego Movie's slogan "everything is awesome", Ai wrote on Twitter: "Lego will tell us what to do, or not to do. That is awesome!" He added: "Lego is giving us the definition of what is 'political', and all the big corporations are telling us what to love or hate. That is awesome." In an earlier Instagram post, he wrote: "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." Lego spokesman Roar Rude Trangbaek would not comment directly on the case but said that, as a principle, Lego "respects any individual's right to free, creative expression".  The artist also linked Lego's stance with plans for a new Legoland in Shanghai. Lego said the theme park was being built by Merlin Entertainment and not Lego, but that Lego does have some ties with Merlin because it uses the Lego brand. Ai Weiwei is known for his criticism of the Chinese government as well as for being one of the world's leading contemporary artists. Many fans have utilised Lego to help show their support for the artist on social media. One used the toy bricks to spell out the words "I support Ai Weiwei", while others offered to let the artist borrow their collection, adding, "we won't be buying more". www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-34636319 |
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Post by odog on Oct 27, 2015 9:12:34 GMT
Unbelievable, but I think it might actually work out for the best, in the end. Reality exposed!
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Post by Dr. Plip on Oct 27, 2015 10:18:20 GMT
It would be great if, now Lego have refused to take his money, he instead used it to purchase Lego bricks from the public. By weight or something.
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Post by ZeBigBoss on Oct 27, 2015 10:55:27 GMT
Well, he could either a) ask Nathan Sawaya for bricks, being the no 1 LEGO masterbuilder, he has plenty of bricks (google "Art of the Brick") en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathan_Sawayab) forget about this project because what he is trying do was already done and redone |
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Post by IggyWiggy on Oct 27, 2015 15:28:15 GMT
Shame Lego weren't so high & mighty before jumping into bed with Shell
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Post by Deleted on Oct 27, 2015 16:42:07 GMT
Shame Lego weren't so high & mighty before jumping into bed with Shell True, but think about what Legos are made from. |
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Post by Dr. Plip on Oct 27, 2015 16:47:59 GMT
Anyone see that video of the Lego factory? I was horrified. It's nearly all automated and there are hardly any people in sight. What do people do for jobs, oil the machines?
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Post by Deleted on Oct 27, 2015 19:15:10 GMT
He got refused in Melborne who cares .
He wasn't it's just PR.
Whether you he or me agrees with it it's their right. As a supposed believer in freedom surely he should respect their right not to sell their product for this use. Their market is children not rich artists making art.. Eg If a porn film maker wanted to use large Lego sculptures and they refused people would agree.
So would just imagine it goes against their products concept which is normal for a company especially a children's toy manufacturer
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Post by Dr. Plip on Oct 27, 2015 19:32:46 GMT
He got refused in Melborne no one cared. So why was he expecting them in London..,.. He wasn't it's just PR. Whether you he or me agrees with it it's their right. As a supposed believer in freedom surely he should respect their right not to sell their product for this use. Their market is children not rich artists making art.. Eg If a porn film maker wanted to use large Lego sculptures and they refused people would agree. So would just imagine it goes against their products concept which is normal for a company especially a children's toy manufacturer Are you implying that he's making a career out of being a victim of persecution and censorship? |
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Post by mojo on Oct 27, 2015 20:11:40 GMT
Well they didn't censor The White Stripes ...... or me I play with Lego at least once a week.
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Post by mojo on Oct 27, 2015 20:30:39 GMT
Shame Lego weren't so high & mighty before jumping into bed with Shell Ok I'll have a word .....seriously though why does everything have to be so fucked up and corrupted even Lego?  Lego translates to Play Well |
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Post by Still Hate Thatcher on Oct 27, 2015 20:52:02 GMT
He got refused in Melborne no one cared. So why was he expecting them in London..,.. He wasn't it's just PR. Whether you he or me agrees with it it's their right. As a supposed believer in freedom surely he should respect their right not to sell their product for this use. Their market is children not rich artists making art.. Eg If a porn film maker wanted to use large Lego sculptures and they refused people would agree. So would just imagine it goes against their products concept which is normal for a company especially a children's toy manufacturer What are your three favourite pieces of art that hang in your house? |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 27, 2015 21:18:35 GMT
Lego really dropped the brick on this one.  There's a LEGOLAND near me in Florida, may have to plan a little public work on AWW's behalf... |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 28, 2015 2:12:32 GMT
He got refused in Melborne no one cared. So why was he expecting them in London..,.. He wasn't it's just PR. Whether you he or me agrees with it it's their right. As a supposed believer in freedom surely he should respect their right not to sell their product for this use. Their market is children not rich artists making art.. Eg If a porn film maker wanted to use large Lego sculptures and they refused people would agree. So would just imagine it goes against their products concept which is normal for a company especially a children's toy manufacturer Are you implying that he's making a career out of being a victim of persecution and censorship? Ehh yes he is and has. I like his art but he is full of it Eg if he was turned down By Lego that's their right. Now he turns it into something half way through London show. His Aus show opens in just over a month this is just PR for it and his London show. Just before London it was the visa thing. He's playing it he makes millions and is being paid millions can buy Lego type bricks loads of places but now needs donations etc it's a PR game. Note he is not being persecuted or censored here nor was he with the visa thing in the UK. Same happens to all who are caught lying on the application and Lego do not want to supply a bulk amount for this purpose that's their right. They are not stopping him going to the shops and buying it!! They are just not corporately supporting its political use because it is a toy. for children. |
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Post by Southbound on Oct 28, 2015 2:25:00 GMT
If he will make it an open bidding process I will sell him the sh*t ton of Legos my kid has. That way I will quit stepping on the godd*mned things every 5 minutes with my bare feet.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 28, 2015 2:25:08 GMT
He got refused in Melborne no one cared. So why was he expecting them in London..,.. He wasn't it's just PR. Whether you he or me agrees with it it's their right. As a supposed believer in freedom surely he should respect their right not to sell their product for this use. Their market is children not rich artists making art.. Eg If a porn film maker wanted to use large Lego sculptures and they refused people would agree. So would just imagine it goes against their products concept which is normal for a company especially a children's toy manufacturer What are your three favourite pieces of art that hang in your house? Not sure of the relevance but here you go Adam Neate Orange Portrait Fateh Moudarres Man and Woman Banksy Napalm Ap. or El Seed The more you go to the East the more you reach the West He he it changes quite regularly though!! If that helps |
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Post by IggyWiggy on Oct 28, 2015 8:22:53 GMT
Are you implying that he's making a career out of being a victim of persecution and censorship? Ehh yes he is and has. I like his art but he is full of it Eg if he was turned down By Lego that's their right. Now he turns it into something half way through London show. His Aus show opens in just over a month this is just PR for it and his London show. Just before London it was the visa thing. He's playing it he makes millions and is being paid millions can buy Lego type bricks loads of places but now needs donations etc it's a PR game. Note he is not being persecuted or censored here nor was he with the visa thing in the UK. Same happens to all who are caught lying on the application and Lego do not want to supply a bulk amount for this purpose that's their right. They are not stopping him going to the shops and buying it!! They are just not corporately supporting its political use because it is a toy. for children. They were happy to 'corporately support' the cosy oil company Shell with their children's toy though. Would it be fair to say that the Danish toy company would be happy to sell it's own grandmother if the price was right? |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 28, 2015 9:14:36 GMT
[/quote]They were happy to 'corporately support' the cosy oil company Shell with their children's toy though. Would it be fair to say that the Danish toy company would be happy to sell it's own grandmother if the price was right?[/quote]
Possibly. They did not corporately support shell though they sold them some branding......Remember though she'll is on most major roads in the UK and a very common image. Plus one of the UK's top corporations and brands. So it has no negative in general to their target market. Some parents might not like she'll but there is plenty of other legoetc to buy. It's just business which is completely different to the refusal to Ai Wei Wei.
Whether Ior you think it was a good or bad decision it is their right. And quite funny that all the supposed believers in fredom of choice are now knocking their freedom of choice.
He is just milking it and you lot are drinking it by the glass.
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Post by cnh on Oct 29, 2015 0:07:15 GMT
I noticed this story the other day on the BBC website and at the time I wondered would it get the same press if Lego had authorised the purchase. Certainly not so early before the exhibition.
I do completely understand the fact that Lego don't want to be involved in the politics of it all therefore not wanting any involvement.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 29, 2015 2:40:41 GMT
One thing is for certain:
AWW will get more than enough Legos from people around the world, gratis. He has also further endeared himself to his fans for exposing the power of certain governments to silence creativity and expression. Lego didn't sell him the bricks because they didn't want to get involved in politics. They didn't sell AWW the bricks because they wanted to build a park in China and wanted to please the powers that be.
That's fine. Like I said, China's getting a LEGOLAND, AWW's getting free bricks, Lego will continue to be a success, and AWW just expanded his fan base.
Win, Win
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Post by Deleted on Oct 29, 2015 7:28:29 GMT
One thing is for certain: AWW will get more than enough Legos from people around the world, gratis. He has also further endeared himself to his fans for exposing the power of certain governments to silence creativity and expression. Lego didn't sell him the bricks because they didn't want to get involved in politics. They didn't sell AWW the bricks because they wanted to build a park in China and wanted to please the powers that be. That's fine. Like I said, China's getting a LEGOLAND, AWW's getting free bricks, Lego will continue to be a success, and AWW just expanded his fan base. Win, Win Shanghai makes a great story for those of you who want to believe any rubbish you read. But it's a fact that Lego never sell for use in politics. They even took a Czech party to court for using Lego Pirate characters in a tv local not national tv advert back in 2012 There has also been instances in the US where same has happened Also not Lego opening Park it's a UK company. But do you honestly think China gives a shit what toy blocks he uses??? They have not banned the Car he drives etc etc etc. think you might wanna look closer to home......he is going to Aus is he complaining or donating any of his huge fees about refugees treatment ...No. Is he speaking up for Aboriganes rights....No. Is he is he is he ...... No he is complaining about Fucking Lego You ever considered that with all his dissident money making and promotion he actually might be drowning out the real voice of some who are really suffering!!!!! |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 29, 2015 19:12:01 GMT
One thing is for certain: AWW will get more than enough Legos from people around the world, gratis. He has also further endeared himself to his fans for exposing the power of certain governments to silence creativity and expression. Lego didn't sell him the bricks because they didn't want to get involved in politics. They didn't sell AWW the bricks because they wanted to build a park in China and wanted to please the powers that be. That's fine. Like I said, China's getting a LEGOLAND, AWW's getting free bricks, Lego will continue to be a success, and AWW just expanded his fan base. Win, Win Shanghai makes a great story for those of you who want to believe any rubbish you read. But it's a fact that Lego never sell for use in politics. They even took a Czech party to court for using Lego Pirate characters in a tv local not national tv advert back in 2012 There has also been instances in the US where same has happened Also not Lego opening Park it's a UK company. But do you honestly think China gives a shit what toy blocks he uses??? They have not banned the Car he drives etc etc etc. think you might wanna look closer to home......he is going to Aus is he complaining or donating any of his huge fees about refugees treatment ...No. Is he speaking up for Aboriganes rights....No. Is he is he is he ...... No he is complaining about Fucking Lego You ever considered that with all his dissident money making and promotion he actually might be drowning out the real voice of some who are really suffering!!!!! so much emotion! |
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Post by Still Hate Thatcher on Oct 29, 2015 19:31:58 GMT
You ever considered that with all his dissident money making and promotion he actually might be drowning out the real voice of some who are really suffering!!!!! I cannot clam to know exactly what 'dissident' money is but, hey, that's fine. I am, however, interested in the people he is drowning out. Can you name three for me, and tell me how he is drowning them out and why they should be heard? Thanks |
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Post by sɐǝpı ɟo uoıʇɐɹǝpǝɟ on Oct 29, 2015 21:57:00 GMT
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Post by Dr. Plip on Oct 29, 2015 22:13:01 GMT
Lego's really expensive these days. 20 quid gets you a box with about 7 pieces in it. Remember how the back of the boxes used to show you all the other things you could build using the pieces from that particular set? Now you don't get enough pieces for that. You can have a figure in a car or a figure standing next to a few Lego pieces.
Soon you'll just be buying the instructions and you'll have to 3D print your own Lego bricks.
Ai Wei should have contacted Mega Bloks. Or Stickle Bricks. Plenty of alternative materials to use.
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