Man shatters Ai Weiwei’s sculpture at Bologna art show

During the opening of an art exhibition at Palazzo Fava in Bologna, Italy, a significant incident occurred when a 57-year-old Czech man shattered Ai Weiwei's sculpture, the 'Porcelain Cube.' The act was captured on CCTV, showing the man forcefully pushing the sculpture over and subsequently holding a piece of it aloft. This event took place on a Friday, prior to the exhibition's official opening on Saturday, which continued as planned despite the vandalism. The curator of the exhibition, Arturo Galansino, noted that the perpetrator was already known in the art community for previous disruptive actions at various exhibitions in Florence. This history raised concerns about the safety and security of artworks in public displays. The police intervened quickly, arresting the man after he was stopped by museum security. In response to the incident, Ai Weiwei expressed relief that no one was injured and requested that the remnants of the sculpture be covered and removed. The exhibition, titled 'Who am I?', is set to run until May 4, and in light of the damage, the original sculpture will be replaced by a life-size print of the 'Porcelain Cube.' This incident highlights ongoing issues regarding art vandalism and the challenges faced by institutions in protecting valuable artworks. The art community is left to grapple with the implications of such actions, as they not only affect the artists but also the integrity of cultural exhibitions.