By — Gretchen Frazee Gretchen Frazee Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/ai-weiwei-wants-legos Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Updated: Lego reverses decision on bulk purchases after Ai Weiwei flap Arts Oct 26, 2015 11:50 AM EDT Updated Jan. 13, 2016 | Lego changed its policy on bulk purchases after initially refusing to sell directly to Chinese artist Ai Weiwei, saying at the time that it didn’t want its product used to make a political statement. On Tuesday, Lego issued a new policy, saying it would fulfill bulk orders without regard for their intended use. “I think Lego made a good move, I think this would be a small victory for freedom of speech,” Ai told the BBC. His Melbourne exhibition depicting political dissidents ended up using non-Lego bricks. Original Story: Chinese artist Ai Weiwei is receiving an outpouring of support in the form of Legos. People around the world are offering to send the artist and activist their Legos after the company refused to fulfill his request for a bulk order. He plans to use the colorful blocks in a work that will be shown at the National Gallery of Victoria in Australia. On his Instagram account last week, Ai said Lego told him they could not meet his request because “they cannot approve the use of Legos for political works.” Soon after, supporters began offering on Twitter to ship Ai their Legos. Ai has said he will find a way to accept them. .@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 support @aiww and freedom of expression through art in any media @LEGO_Group #legosforweiwei pic.twitter.com/oElnjlBQbh — Suzu King (@BellTree127) October 25, 2015 Ai blames Lego business interests in China as reason for their refusal. He notes that just last week, a British company announced it would open a Legoland in Shanghai. In a statement, Lego reiterated it has a long-standing policy to not become involved in political messaging. “As a company dedicated to delivering great creative play experiences to children, we refrain — on a global level — from actively engaging in or endorsing the use of LEGO bricks in projects or contexts of a political agenda,” the statement reads. “This principle is not new.” This is not the first time Ai will have used Legos in his work. Last year, he used hundreds of thousands of Legos to create the names and faces of 176 people jailed or exiled for their ideologies. The work was displayed on Alcatraz Island, in a room used as a prisoner workshop. Ai isn’t the only one scrambling to get Legos though. The company announced earlier that its demand was so high, there might be a shortage as holiday shopping ramps up. Editor’s note: This post has been updated to correct the spelling of the company, Lego, not Legos. We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now By — Gretchen Frazee Gretchen Frazee Gretchen Frazee is a Senior Coordinating Broadcast Producer for the PBS NewsHour. @gretchenfrazee
Updated Jan. 13, 2016 | Lego changed its policy on bulk purchases after initially refusing to sell directly to Chinese artist Ai Weiwei, saying at the time that it didn’t want its product used to make a political statement. On Tuesday, Lego issued a new policy, saying it would fulfill bulk orders without regard for their intended use. “I think Lego made a good move, I think this would be a small victory for freedom of speech,” Ai told the BBC. His Melbourne exhibition depicting political dissidents ended up using non-Lego bricks. Original Story: Chinese artist Ai Weiwei is receiving an outpouring of support in the form of Legos. People around the world are offering to send the artist and activist their Legos after the company refused to fulfill his request for a bulk order. He plans to use the colorful blocks in a work that will be shown at the National Gallery of Victoria in Australia. On his Instagram account last week, Ai said Lego told him they could not meet his request because “they cannot approve the use of Legos for political works.” Soon after, supporters began offering on Twitter to ship Ai their Legos. Ai has said he will find a way to accept them. .@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 support @aiww and freedom of expression through art in any media @LEGO_Group #legosforweiwei pic.twitter.com/oElnjlBQbh — Suzu King (@BellTree127) October 25, 2015 Ai blames Lego business interests in China as reason for their refusal. He notes that just last week, a British company announced it would open a Legoland in Shanghai. In a statement, Lego reiterated it has a long-standing policy to not become involved in political messaging. “As a company dedicated to delivering great creative play experiences to children, we refrain — on a global level — from actively engaging in or endorsing the use of LEGO bricks in projects or contexts of a political agenda,” the statement reads. “This principle is not new.” This is not the first time Ai will have used Legos in his work. Last year, he used hundreds of thousands of Legos to create the names and faces of 176 people jailed or exiled for their ideologies. The work was displayed on Alcatraz Island, in a room used as a prisoner workshop. Ai isn’t the only one scrambling to get Legos though. The company announced earlier that its demand was so high, there might be a shortage as holiday shopping ramps up. Editor’s note: This post has been updated to correct the spelling of the company, Lego, not Legos. We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now