MAN SHATTERS SCULPTURE AT ITALIAN GALLERY
A sculpture by Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei has been smashed by a man visiting the art gallery in the Italian city of Bologna.
The sculpture was a large blue and white cube called “Porcelain Cube”.
The incident took place at the opening of his exhibition at the Palazzo Fava.
Footage of the incident was shared on Ai Weiwei’s Instagram account. It showed a man pushing the sculpture over, breaking it and then holding a piece of it over his head.
A 57-year-old Czech man was arrested after he was stopped by the museum’s security guards.
Arturo Galansino, the exhibit’s curator, said the perpetrator was well-known in the art world.
“Unfortunately, I know the author of this inconsiderate gesture from a series of disturbing and damaging episodes over the years involving various exhibitions and institutions in Florence.”
A spokesperson for the artist said he requested that the remaining pieces be taken away.
“Ai Weiwei worried that no one was hurt and then asked that the remains of the work be covered and taken away.”
Image credit: Daily Sabah