AFP
A Cambodian-born French woman faces prosecution for criminal damage after kissing a painting by American artist Cy Twombly, leaving a lipstick imprint on the otherwise immaculate white canvas.
The untitled 3m x 2m work, valued at 2 million euros ($3.14 million), is part of an exhibition dedicated to the US painter in the southern French city of Avignon.
Thirty-year-old Sam Rindy, who visited the show with a friend on Thursday, told Agence France-Presse that she was so overcome by the white canvas that she kissed it.
"I stepped back. I found the painting even more beautiful," said Rindy.
"The artist left this white for me," she added.
Staff of the Lambert foundation, which owns the painting, took a different view.
They called the police and the woman, herself a painter, was arrested as she left the premises. She will appear in court on August 16 to face charges of criminal damage.
The exhibition, Blooming, runs until September 30.
The untitled 3m x 2m work, valued at 2 million euros ($3.14 million), is part of an exhibition dedicated to the US painter in the southern French city of Avignon.
Thirty-year-old Sam Rindy, who visited the show with a friend on Thursday, told Agence France-Presse that she was so overcome by the white canvas that she kissed it.
"I stepped back. I found the painting even more beautiful," said Rindy.
"The artist left this white for me," she added.
Staff of the Lambert foundation, which owns the painting, took a different view.
They called the police and the woman, herself a painter, was arrested as she left the premises. She will appear in court on August 16 to face charges of criminal damage.
The exhibition, Blooming, runs until September 30.
15 comments:
Yes K.I.S.S it! (Keep It Simple Stupid!)...They know that kissing would ruin it, they should have been more prepared, thus the lady (Sam Rindy) should go free! And shame on the Lambert foundation for their own stupidity!
[ON sait bien que le moindre truc va l'abimer...pourquoi ne prend t-on pas des necessaires mesures pour les prevenir! Honte a la fondation de Lambert, laissez Sam Rindy aller, librement!]
A Cambodian-born American.
I do not agree with the first poster. Every visitor must has their own high discipline and self intregrity when visiting such an even. They must learn how to respect other people valuable effort. I found in many occasions people with such low discipline have visited such even with wild children running around which have disturb other people who are working as security. This lady must learn her lesson. Areak Prey
"Contributory negligence" by the Lambert foundation. "But for" the Lambert foundation did not deploy staff to guard that invaluable piece of art, damage to the painting would not have happened. Reasonable person test - however, Ms. Rindy would be still liable for the damage.
She increased its value. And anyway, that's so FRENCH!!!
As such valuable art, could not imagine that there is no protection. At least a sign i.e. Do not tuch. I beleive the woman should be free, but she probably learns a big lesson from this.
You just can't kiss the painting period. It is for viewing. Use your mind ok?you are an adult, not a little child.Pay for your stupidity.
Seem like this Khmer woman growing up to be a dumb French.
We Khmer don't go around and kiss nothing!
Do we give a hoots to the public about dispalying some affection? Noooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!
She needs to convert back to Khmer.
Giving out an attention don't always get a welcome reaction. Appearancely Sam Rindy got that unfortunate reaction.
She must know now, there is a big different between having someone rolling out red carpet under your feet welcoming you and having someone ordering for your arrest.
Let's hope that she has the best lawyer or may be $ 2 millions bucks to pay for the art and take it home one day. It's her chance to own what she really likes and be famous around the world in 2007. Wrong way at this time, but..... :)
Ordinary Khmers
If the painting is the pricey, The Lambert foundation should have been more careful of protecting their own property when it involves public display. Also a kiss is a kiss but the difference whose kiss and whose call; if it was the wife of French president accidentally kissed it, it would have been different value to their call. Lambert foundation should pay this price for their negligence!
What more carefull you want? If every body stupid like this girl, all the mussium will look like prison and we all will look at the master pieces thtought the bullet proof glasses!
How if she kiss the unpricable Monalisa? This stupid girld should appology and go to jaol!
This is what I don't understand! If the art is so valuable which cost in the million and why don't they put the art behind the bullet proof glass from harm way!
I myself love art and there are times when I see beautiful arts and I want to touch in trying to understand it! I can't blame the lady for the kissing the art!
People who know how to behave properly don't touch other people's property unless they ask permission first.
If it is so private why then open to public?
That art was waiting to be ruined anyway. It was just a matter of by whom. Yes, big sign should be posted " no touching or better yet, For your eyes only! ". Not everybody know how to read those God Damm museum's keeper mind.
this lady now has the opportunity to sue the artist for copyright infringement if he publishes the work in the future!
and...she's too old-fashioned...so definitely FRENCH.
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