A porcelain sculpture by renowned Chinese artist Ai Weiwei was deliberately destroyed during the opening reception of his exhibition, “Who am I?”, at the Palazzo Fava in Bologna on September 20. The piece, a blue-and-white Porcelain Cube, was part of the exhibition that opened to the public the following day. The shocking incident was captured on CCTV and has since sparked widespread discussions in the art community.
According to surveillance footage shared by Ai on Instagram, a man approached the sculpture, which was installed in an atrium near the museum’s gift shop and ticket office. The footage shows the man stepping onto the plinth, pushing the cube forward, and shattering it on the floor. The man then picked up a piece of the broken porcelain, raised it above his head, and held it aloft before security apprehended him.
The individual responsible for the act was identified by the Bologna edition of Corriere della Sera as Vaclav Pisvejc, a 57-year-old Czech national with a history of vandalism targeting art. Museum security detained Pisvejc on-site until local police arrived. He was arrested and charged with the destruction and defacement of cultural assets, among other related offenses. It remains unclear how Pisvejc gained access to the invite-only event, which was not open to the general public.
Pisvejc is no stranger to controversy in the art world. He previously attacked renowned performance artist Marina Abramović in 2018, smashing a painting over her head in Florence. Earlier this year, in 2023, Pisvejc caused a public disturbance in Florence’s Piazza della Signoria by climbing onto the famed statue of Hercules and Cacus while naked, with the word “Censored” painted on his body. These repeated acts of vandalism have made him a notorious figure in the art world, particularly in Italy.
Exhibition curator Arturo Galansino, director of the Fondazione Palazzo Strozzi in Florence, expressed his dismay, stating, “This act of vandalism is especially troubling given the themes explored in Ai Weiwei’s work, which often reflect on destruction and violence in society.” However, he emphasized that Ai’s artistic examination of destruction is rooted in protest against societal injustices, contrasting it with the thoughtless vandalism committed by Pisvejc.
Ai Weiwei responded to the incident in a calm and measured manner. Speaking to local media, he remarked, “I hope for his sake that he didn’t hurt himself on the pieces of porcelain.” The artist, known for his outspoken criticism of authoritarian regimes and his own politically charged works, seemed to downplay the severity of the incident in his public statements, although he acknowledged the significance of the act.
The damaged Porcelain Cube, which stands at 1.2 meters tall and is valued at approximately €300,000 (around ₩460 million), was immediately removed from the exhibition space and covered. A photograph of the intact sculpture will now be displayed in its place, allowing visitors to reflect on the piece’s intended form. The exhibition, which runs until May 2025, will proceed as scheduled, despite the incident.
This is not the first time Ai Weiwei’s work has been destroyed, though the circumstances are often part of his own exploration of themes like destruction, history, and the value of art. In 2014, during an exhibition in Miami, a similar incident occurred when a local artist smashed one of Ai’s colored vases in protest, although that act was meant to critique the gallery’s focus on international art over local talent. Ai’s work has always invited such discussions, and this latest act of vandalism has again highlighted the fragility of art in public spaces.
The “Who am I?” exhibition, curated by Fondazione Palazzo Fava, surveys Ai Weiwei’s career and body of work, including his powerful reflections on global politics, freedom of expression, and human rights. Despite the attack, the exhibition continues to draw significant attention, and organizers remain committed to showcasing Ai’s work for the duration of the exhibition.
Sayart / Jason Yim, yimjongho1969@gmail.com
