A 7,40,000 Pound painting at a Russian gallery was defaced by none other than the person entrusted to protect it: a security guard. According to The Art Newspaper, the guard used a ball pen to draw eyes on the faceless figures depicted in the painting by abstract artist Anna Leporskaya.
Sputnik News reported the vandalism of the famous painting, ‘Three Figures’, was noted by two people visiting the Yeltsin Center in Yekaterinburg, Russia, where the painting was being exhibited. The painting made in the 1930s is estimated to be insured at 740,000 pounds (approximately Rs 7.5 crore).
The identity of the vandal has not been revealed but the police have started an investigation into the incident. If convicted the accused can face up to a one-year correctional labour sentence along with a hefty fine.
Sputnik News quoted the Yeltsin Center’s statement issued on Tuesday, saying, “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.”
The statement said after an inspection by experts, the damaged artwork was sent to Moscow where it is being restored. The Art Newspaper reported that the painting can be fully restored as the impact of the ballpoint pen was “without strong pressure” and therefore the painting can still be salvaged.
Why worry? Just convert the new ‘creation’ into an NFT! https://t.co/I7F3wbIxWH
— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) February 10, 2022
That security guard is a man after God’s own heart. He was sent by God to put sense into the artist and the people who valued this at $1 million.
If that painting is worth $1 million then my improvement here should be worth $1.8 million at least cause I gave life to the figures. pic.twitter.com/OfWM0GG9Vs
— Xerxes (@XerxesEmperor) February 10, 2022
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
I assume they hired Mr. Bean. pic.twitter.com/G8D41gDSxx
— 𝕄𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕣𝕖𝕤𝕤 𝕠𝕗 𝔽𝕦𝕫𝕫𝕪 𝕃𝕠𝕘𝕚𝕔 🌹 (@katiepajamas) February 9, 2022
This would be funnier if he had added googly eyes.
— Spellczyker (@spellczyker) February 9, 2022
He’s just an unappreciated visionary.
— David (@JustinT26854447) February 9, 2022
imagine everyone’s surprise pic.twitter.com/Ob0oEsW6jO
— zero-g spot (@zerogspot) February 9, 2022
Not as detailed as this one but she tried. pic.twitter.com/161m1fYiys
— Nettangel 🐓🍷🦂🐍🗑🦨#NeverVoteConservative (@nettangel7) 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????
— 🪦👻keyboard🧟♂️☢️ (@wallowrats) 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
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🌊👩🏾♥️♌🇺🇸☮️🌈😷 (@StaceyW32933359) February 9, 2022
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 (@emmapandason) February 9, 2022