Vandal Attacks Ai Weiwei Sculpture at Bologna Exhibition

During the opening of Ai Weiwei's exhibition at Palazzo Fava in Bologna, a man shattered his Porcelain Cube sculpture. The perpetrator, a well-known figure in the art world, was arrested. Despite the incident, the exhibition continues with a life-size print replacement of the destroyed work.

In a shocking incident on Friday, a man shattered a sculpture by Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei during the opening of his exhibition at Palazzo Fava in Bologna. CCTV footage posted on Ai's Instagram account showed the man forcefully pushing over the 'Porcelain Cube' sculpture, breaking it, and lifting a piece over his head.

The targeted sculpture, a large blue and white 'Porcelain Cube,' was described by a spokesperson for the show. The exhibit's curator, Arturo Galansino, said the perpetrator was a well-known figure in the art world, with a history of disturbing behavior in various exhibitions across Florence.

Police in Bologna arrested a 57-year-old Czech man following the incident. The exhibition, titled 'Who am I,' continues as planned with a life-size print replacing the damaged sculpture. Ai Weiwei's primary concern was for the safety of the attendees, ensuring that the remains of the artwork were promptly covered and removed.

(With inputs from agencies.)