Ai Weiwei inundated with Lego donations after toy maker refuses to send him bricks on political grounds

Chinese artist Ai Weiwei (Getty)

After claiming Danish toy maker Lego had refused a bulk order request, Ai Weiwei has been inundated with brick donations from people around the world.

According to the Chinese artist, Lego refused his order in September, reportedly saying “they cannot approve the use of Legos for political works.”

Weiwei’s studio made the accusation in an Instagram post, which also pointed out how British firm Merlin Entertainment had only days earlier announced they would be opening a Legoland theme park in Shanghai.


 From Ai Weiwei's Instagram
 (Al Weiwei Instagram)

He was going to use the bricks to create an artwork about free speech, set to be shown the National Gallery of Victoria in Australia.

Lego’s refusal has prompted people around the world to donate bricks to the artist, one user Tweeting “#EverythingIsAwesome, political censorship is not!”

People were quick to criticise the censorship, questioning what Lego would and wouldn't allow their bricks to portray.

Weiwei went on to post a photo of Lego bricks in a toilet along with the name “R. Mutt 2015”, a reference to Marcel Duchamp’s Fountain.

Alongside was a lengthy caption that included a segment that read “Lego's refusal to sell its product to the artist is an act of censorship and discrimination.”

In a letter to The Guardian, Lego confirmed that the order had been refused on political ground.

A spokesperson 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 has previously not had their film, The Lego Movie, shown in mainland China. The film featured a villain, Lord Business, who was praised by critics for being a satirical take on corporate control.