ROME – A man caused a stir during the private opening of Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei’s exhibition in Bologna, Italy. The man smashed a sculpture by Ai Weiwei, an act of vandalism that shocked attendees and the show’s curator.
The damaged sculpture, titled “Porcelain Cube”, was a focal point of the exhibition “Who am I?” at Palazzo Fava in Bologna. The incident occurred during the invitation-only event, leading to the man’s arrest by local authorities.
Despite the unfortunate incident, the exhibition opened to the public as scheduled, with the damaged sculpture being replaced by a print and an explanation of the incident. Ai Weiwei shared CCTV footage of the attack on social media, showcasing the man’s destructive behavior.
The curator of the exhibition, Arturo Galansino, expressed disappointment over the act of vandalism, emphasizing that Ai Weiwei’s work often explores themes of destruction as a commentary on societal issues. The attacker was described as a “troublemaker seeking attention” with a history of damaging art and other cultural institutions.
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