New Delhi,UPDATED: Apr 12, 2024 11:54 IST
A German art museum worker, with aspirations of becoming a successful artist, was fired and banned from the gallery after he secretly hung one of his own paintings at Munich’s prestigious Pinakothek der Moderne museum.
The 51-year-old man, who worked in the technical services team at the museum, had drilled two holes into a wall to mount his painting.
He had hopes of achieving an “artistic breakthrough,” according to authorities who spoke to the German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung, as quoted by The New York Post.
His painting, measuring 23 by 47 inches, was hung in an empty passageway on February 23. However, the incident was not made public until Monday, when it was spotted by staff shortly after the museum opened for the day.
The decision was made to keep the painting on display while the gallery was open and remove it after closing time at 6 pm, as per The New York Post.
The man’s actions were met with swift consequences. In addition to losing his job, he was also permanently banned from the gallery, which is one of the largest featuring modern art in Europe.
Speaking about the incident, the museum authorities declined to comment on the painting’s subject or style, in order to avoid encouraging “copycat pranksters.”
“The employee considers himself an artist and most likely saw his role in the museum’s installation team as a day-job to support his true calling,” a spokesperson for Pinakothek told the Guardian.
The museum, which features famous works by artists like Leonardo da Vinci and Henri Matisse, was the site of the employee’s misguided attempt at gaining recognition.