Organisers of an art exhibition in Taipei say that a painting worth around $1.5 million was damaged when a 12-year-old boy lost his balanced and unintentionally poked a hole in it on Sunday (August 23).
“Flowers” by Italian master Paolo Porpora is part of a Taipei exhibit showcasing artwork painted by or influenced by Leonardo da Vinci, according to main organizer.
The head of the exhibition co-organiser, TST Art of Discovery Co., said he didn’t believe the boy had intentionally vandalised the oil painting.
“It’s obvious that (the boy) didn’t mean to push (the painting). I merely think that the kid might have been focusing on what the teacher was saying and his eyes were elsewhere, so he accidentally stepped on the platform (in front of the painting) and had a bit of a fall,” Sun Chi-hsuan said.
Sun said that TST Art and other organizers of the gallery said they will not be charging the boy and his parents the entire fee for restoring the painting. He said an insurance company will handle the costs instead.
TST Art and other organisers borrowed the painting on a loan. It was displayed alongside over 50 other Italian Renaissance-era paintings at the exhibition, TST Art said on its official Facebook page.
The gallery was drawing plenty of visitors on Tuesday afternoon after the incident.
Taipei resident Lee Yi-fan said a painting so valuable should have been better protected.
“I think that painting should have been displayed behind glass, because displaying it in the open is very dangerous. There’s just nothing to protect the painting as people go up to it and carelessly touch it. Because a lot of (people) will be looking at it,” Lee said.
At a news conference on Tuesday held by TST Art, a number of journalists doubted the authenticity of the painting since gallery organizers were certain it could be “easily” restored.
Another gallery visitor said she believed the painting is real, but hoped organizers would pay more attention in protecting it.
“I don’t think the painting is fake because (the exhibit organizers) already said that it’s an original so I believe it’s the real thing. But if the paintings are original, those measures they took to protect it are terrible. (They) should have a more complete way to protect it,” she said.
Quoting Sun, local Taiwanese media said the gallery had exceeded its allowed limit of visitors when the painting was poked.
