A security guard who was entrusted with protecting a 7,40,000 pound painting in a Russian exhibition vandalised it.
The guard used a ball pen to draw eyeballs on the faceless characters in abstract artist Anna Leporskaya’s work.
Although the name of the vandal has not been revealed, officials have initiated an investigation into the incident. If convicted, the defendant might face a year in prison as well as a significant fine.
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The vandalism of the famous painting ‘Three Figures‘ was seen by two people visiting the Yeltsin Center in Yekaterinburg, Russia, where the painting was on display.
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According to the media, the Yeltsin Center made a statement, “We inform you that during the investigation, the person who painted the eyes on the figures in the painting by Anna Leporskaya was identified – this is an employee of a private security organization that carries out security activities of the Yeltsin Center.”
After an expert evaluation, the damaged artwork was transferred to Moscow for repair. Because the ballpoint pen was hit “without strong pressure,” the painting can be completely restored and the artwork saved.
The guard should be arrested for defacing a artists work. Looking better or not,he still did something he wasn't authorized to do,it was the artists work,if teh artist wanted eyes in it he would've done it himself, he didn't need a bored guard to do it
— Bobogaga (@asadhosie) February 9, 2022
The immaturity in this world is reaching large levels among adults. Raise up to your higher self instead of drawing eyes on a painting because you were bored. 😠
— Stacey Williams🌊👩🏾♥️♌🦁🇺🇸🇺🇦🇵🇸☮️🌈 ally 😷 (@StaceyW32933359) February 9, 2022
This is horrible. A ball point pen too could cause so much damage to the canvas itself. I'm excited to see it restored
— Ruby 🏳️⚧️ (@RubyOtaku_) February 9, 2022
what i dont understand is how the restoration is gonna cost 3k…. the ink in ballpoint pens is Not hard to remove and i can only assume this piece has a protective varnish on it so like….. whats w that price point????
— 🦇GEO👻 (@wallowrats) February 9, 2022
Not as detailed as this one but she tried. pic.twitter.com/161m1fYiys
— Nettangel (@nettangel7) February 9, 2022
imagine everyone's surprise pic.twitter.com/Ob0oEsW6jO
— zero-g spot (@zerogspot) February 9, 2022
He's just an unappreciated visionary.
— David (@JustinT26854447) February 9, 2022
https://twitter.com/spellczyker/status/1491494189917519872
https://twitter.com/katiepajamas/status/1491496135076323330
Must admit that the painting looks better with the eyes. Is there a gofundme to get the guard out of the gulag?
— Theuresa Maven (@theuresamaven) February 9, 2022
https://twitter.com/XerxesEmperor/status/1491599593456472064
