A contemporary art gallery in Germany has taken disciplinary action against an employee who clandestinely displayed his own artwork within an ongoing exhibition.
The individual, a 51-year-old man employed by Munich’s Pinakothek der Moderne, took the initiative to mount his painting on a wall within the gallery premises. His unconventional move involved drilling two holes to affix the artwork without authorization.
Reports from local media suggest that the man embarked on this endeavor with the aspiration of garnering recognition for his artistic endeavors.
Tine Nehler, a spokesperson for the gallery, emphasized that such unauthorized actions are promptly detected by vigilant supervisors. The artwork, occupying an empty passageway, was swiftly identified and removed from display. Nehler further noted that the piece was promptly returned to the artist.
The dismissed employee, who served as a member of the gallery’s technical services team while identifying himself as a freelance artist, has faced consequences beyond termination of employment. He has been prohibited from accessing the gallery premises henceforth.
Pinakothek der Moderne stands as one of Europe’s preeminent modern art galleries, showcasing masterpieces by renowned artists such as Pablo Picasso, Max Ernst, and Salvador Dalí.
This incident is not an isolated occurrence within the German art scene. In a separate incident in Bonn last October, staff at the Bundeskunsthalle discovered an unauthorized addition to their exhibition, presumably placed by a member of the public. The gallery responded humorously, inviting the anonymous artist to come forward and engage with them. Subsequently, the individual in question made contact with the gallery’s curator to explore potential collaboration opportunities.
