13-Year-Old Student Vandalizes Artwork at MuHKA in Antwerp: Museum Responds with Insurance Coverage

Since January 20, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Antwerp South has been holding a small exhibition with work by the West Flemish artist Willy De Sauter. One of the works – untitled – is a collection of cubes of different sizes, made of polystyrene, a type of Styrofoam.

On one of the sides, the cubes are arranged in such a way that they resemble a two-step staircase. A 13-year-old student from a school in Antwerp, on a cultural trip with his class, thought it was a staircase from which he could better see the rest of the work. But the material was not strong enough and it fell through.

Willy De Sauter (85) was not there himself. “Was it on purpose or not?” he wonders. “Did that boy lose his balance or did he want to test the work for strength?”

He is willing to repair the broken cube, which has since been removed. “I think it’s the easiest way to fix the pieces and refill the stuff afterwards. I hope I can make it whole again.”

The exhibition runs until May 5. The installation can still be seen in the museum – this time without the damaged part.

“The student did not deliberately damage the artwork,” said Bert De Vlegelaer of the MuHKA, who did not want to comment on the financial value of the artwork. “So he shouldn’t have to pay the costs. Accidents like this happen from time to time and we have insurance for them. We have contacted the school, the parents and the artist and will handle this internally and without drama.”