Museum Worker Fired After Hanging His Painting
The dreams of a German art museum worker and aspiring artist were short-lived after he was fired for hanging his painting in the gallery.
According to Munich newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung, the 51-year-old man describes himself as a freelance artist who worked in technical service at the museum Pinakothek der Moderne.
Pinakothek der Moderne is a modern art museum with more than 20,000 pieces, including works by renowned painters Pablo Picasso, René Magritte, Leonardo Da Vinci and many more.
The employee, who is yet to be identified, reportedly mounted his artwork, 23 by 47 inches, in an empty passageway on Feb. 23. The incident was not made public until Monday.
The painting was hung during the early morning hours and spotted by staff soon after the museum opened for the day. A spokesperson for the museum told Süddeutsche Zeitung that the decision was made to keep the picture on display while the gallery was open and take it down after its closing time at 6 p.m.
“As a result of the incident, he has been banned from the museum until further notice, and his employment will not be continued,” the spokesperson said.
The incident also caught the attention of the police, who told the outlet that the employee was under investigation for property damage.
In addition, it could carry a fine or a prison sentence of up to two years if he is convicted.
“We have, of course, initiated criminal charges. This means that the public prosecutor’s office will now decide what happens,” Christian Drexler, chief superintendent of the Munich Police, said. “But it’s up to the judiciary to decide in each case.”
According to Drexler, the painting was attached to an exhibition wall with two screws. As a result, the exhibition wall was damaged, and the Munich Criminal Investigation Department is now investigating the damage to property caused by the drill holes.
Drexler added that the total damage is estimated at around €100 ($107). The picture has since been removed and confiscated.