UK Lego collection point for Ai Weiwei
28 October 2015
The Royal Academy of Arts will be the UK Lego
Collection point for a new international art project by Ai Weiwei. A
second-hand BMW 5S series sedan will be placed in the Royal Academy’s Courtyard as a
repository for visitors to donate Lego blocks through the vehicle’s sunroof. The
car will remain in the Royal Academy’s Courtyard from Friday 30 October until the end of
November 2015.
Ai Weiwei’s studio announced the following statement on Instagram: “In September 2015 Lego refused to sell Ai Weiwei Studio a bulk order of Lego bricks for Ai's artworks to be exhibited at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne on the basis of the works' "political" nature… Numerous supporters offered to donate Lego to Ai. 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”.”
Other international collection points include Ai Weiwei’s studio in Beijing, The Martin-Gropius-Bau in Berlin and the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne. Ai Weiwei will be announcing further Lego international collection points in the coming days. Follow Ai Weiwei on Instagram @aiww for updates.
Image courtesy of the Royal Academy of Arts © Fraser Marr.
