October 8th 2024.
The LAM museum in Lisse, the Netherlands, was recently in the spotlight for an interesting mishap involving French artist Alexandre Lavet's artwork. As the saying goes, "one man's trash is another man's treasure," and in this case, it couldn't be more true. A worker at the museum, perhaps taking Macklemore's lyrics a little too seriously, mistakenly threw away Lavet's art piece, thinking it was just discarded cans.
The artwork, titled "All the good times we spent together," was displayed in a glass lift, giving the illusion of being left behind by construction workers. Lavet meticulously hand-painted the cans to look like the popular Belgian beer, Jupiler, complete with dents to make them appear as if they had been discarded. So, it's no surprise that the lift technician mistook them for actual trash and chucked them.
But in a way, this mistake can be seen as a compliment to Lavet's work. His art pays tribute to the streets of Brussels, artists' studios, parties, and exhibition openings, and now it has become a part of the museum's collection in an unexpected way. It was only when the museum's curator, Elisah van den Bergh, realized the cans were missing that a search was launched. Eventually, she found them in a bin bag, ready to be disposed of. Luckily, both cans were found intact and have been cleaned and temporarily displayed at the entrance of the museum.
The LAM museum is known for its unconventional way of showcasing its international art collection, not just on walls and plinths, but also in unexpected locations. Sietske van Zanten, the museum's director, explained that the theme of their collection is food and consumption, and displaying artworks in unexpected places allows visitors to see everyday objects in a new light. It's all about keeping them on their toes and amplifying their experience.
The museum clarified that the lift technician was not reprimanded for his actions, as he was only doing his job in good faith. He was filling in for the regular technician, who is familiar with the building and its exhibits. Zanten also noted that this incident is a testament to the effectiveness of Lavet's art.
Unfortunately, this is not the first incident involving mishaps with artworks in recent months. In Israel, a young boy accidentally shattered a 3,500-year-old vase, and in Italy, a sculpture by Chinese artist Ai Weiwei was vandalized during a private exhibition. But as they say, "art is in the eye of the beholder," and sometimes, even the most unconventional displays can lead to unexpected outcomes. So, let's keep an open mind and continue to appreciate the creativity and uniqueness of artists like Alexandre Lavet. And who knows, maybe we'll stumble upon some hidden treasures in the most unexpected places. Don't forget to follow us on WhatsApp for the latest news and updates from Metro.
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