14 DAY TRIAL // The shocking moment when Maximo Caminero smashed a valuable vase by Chinese artist Ai Weiwei has been caught on camera. The incident occurred at Miami's Perez Art Museum and was filmed by a visitor.
The Florida artist faces criminal charges because his action wasn't involuntary at all. Police say he smashed the $1 million (€729,000) vase to protest the museum's favoritism for international art instead of the local one. He says “the museum only displayed international artists' art.”
The 51-year-old man was charged with criminal mischief and faces up to five years in prison for Sunday's incident.
“All of us here at the museum are horrified by this criminal act. This is vandalism. We're very upset,” said Leann Standish, the museum's spokesperson, according to The Telegraph.
According to the Perez Art Museum Miami's website, the vase is part of a 2008 collection that is on display at the installation.