Ai Weiwei sculpture smashed at Italy art show opening

A porcelain sculpture by Ai Weiwei was intentionally broken by a man during the opening of the Chinese artist and activist’s new exhibition at Palazzo Fava in Bologna, northern Italy, on Friday.

CCTV footage posted on Ai Weiwei’s Instagram account shows the man pushing the work – included in a survey on Ai Weiwei entitled “Who am I?” –  and lifting up a piece of broken porcelain over his head.

Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera identified the culprit as 57-year-old Czech man Vaclav Pisvejc, who was stopped by museum security and later arrested by police. How he successfully got into the invite-only event is unclear.

According to the exhibition’s curator, Arturo Galansino, Pisvejc has form when it comes to causing disturbances at art events. 

“Unfortunately, I know the author of this inconsiderate gesture from a series of disturbing and damaging episodes over the years involving various exhibitions and institutions in Florence,” Galansino told Reuters.

His past incendiary acts of vandalism, Corriere della Sera explained, have included attacking acclaimed conceptual and performance artist artist Marina Abramović with her own portrait in 2018, and climbing onto Florence’s Hercules and Cacus statue naked (but for the world “Censored” painted on his body) during an awards ceremony last year.

“I hope for his sake that he didn’t hurt himself on the pieces of porcelain,” Ai said of the incident, according to the Italian newspaper. 

Despite the disruption, the exhibition opened to the public as planned on Saturday. A photo of the unbroken “Porcelain Cube” will go on display where the piece previously stood.

“Ai Weiwei. Who am I?”runs at Palazzo Fava until 4 May 2025.

Additional sources • Corriere della Sera, Reuters