{"id":251564,"date":"2025-11-08T16:34:10","date_gmt":"2025-11-08T16:34:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/251564\/"},"modified":"2025-11-08T16:34:10","modified_gmt":"2025-11-08T16:34:10","slug":"museum-volunteer-ruins-artwork-by-cleaning-it-with-toilet-paper-news-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/251564\/","title":{"rendered":"Museum volunteer ruins artwork by ‘cleaning’ it with toilet paper | News World"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\"Before
\n\t\tBefore and after the artwork was ruined (Picture: Jam Press)<\/p>\n

There are those of us who are clean-freaks and those who are not. <\/p>\n

For some, the temptation is too irresistible not to wipe away the water rings on the coffee<\/a> table or the dust on our reflection.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s exactly what one well-meaning volunteer<\/a> did when he mistook a work<\/a> of art for a mirror. <\/p>\n

The Keelung Museum of Art in Taiwan<\/a> this week showcased a contemporary art exhibition, which featured a dust-covered mirror on a plain wooden board.<\/p>\n

It was created by Chen Sung-chih and had a smudge in the middle, which was meant to symbolise the cultural consciousness of the middle-class.<\/p>\n

But the museum volunteer mistakenly thought the artwork was dusty \u2013 and took it upon himself to wipe it down with toilet paper.<\/p>\n

The 40 years of dust was mostly cleaned off before colleagues intervened \u2013 but the artwork could not be fully restored to its original appearance.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Keelung\u2019s
\n\t\tKeelung\u2019s Culture and Tourism Bureau could face paying out compensation for the damage (Picture: Jam Press)<\/p>\n

The piece was part of the museum\u2019s We Are Me exhibition which features works made from building materials and household objects.<\/p>\n

Chen\u2019s installation reconstructs everyday objects to explore themes of memory, ritual and transformation.<\/p>\n

Dust-covered old mirrors and mesh fabrics are integrated with raw panels to symbolise disappearance and flux, while reflecting on human persistence and change.<\/p>\n

Keelung\u2019s Culture and Tourism Bureau has apologised to the artist \u2013 and could now face paying out compensation for the damage. <\/p>\n

\t\t\"But
\n\t\tBut critics have said the piece of art should be left as it is (Picture: Jam Press)<\/p>\n

But lawyer Tsai Chia-hao said wiping away dust from an artwork may not constitute tangible property damage, which could affect the artist\u2019s ability to claim for compensation.<\/p>\n

And some critics have said the accidental wipe is now part of the piece and should be left as it is.<\/p>\n

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk<\/a>.<\/p>\n

For more stories like this, check our news page<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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