Having their artwork exhibited in a museum is a dream for all artists, but just a few of them managed to fulfill it. But, where there is a will, there is a way, as a recent example from Munich, Germany, shows.
Back in February, one employee at Munich’s Pinakothek der Moderne, who happens to be an aspiring artist, decided to hang one of his paintings in the museum’s collection. After finding out about the employee’s intervention, the museum decided to terminate his contract and banned him from visiting again. It is unclear how long the artwork was displayed before it was discovered.
After the news made headlines, Pinakothek der Moderne shared some details about the case. According to a public statement, a 51-year-old employee gained access to the exhibit space during working hours but outside the regular opening hours. They also stated that criminal charges were withdrawn while refuting that the employee was fired, instead saying his contract was terminated on “mutual agreement.”
While some members of the art community and media argued that the employee’s actions could be considered an artistic intervention, Pinakothek der Moderne disagreed, saying “no hurdles had to be overcome” and branded the actions as “a breach of trust.”
The employee’s artwork later made its way to social media. The painting, which is 45 inches wide and 25 inches in length, shows a family of four that has its faces and certain body parts covered in white paint.
