“Sell Broken Works” Proposal Collectors also
A commotion broke out when a visitor accidentally broke a ‘balloon dog’, a symbolic work of world-renowned contemporary artist Jeff Koons and priced at about 55 million won.
At the VIP preview event held on the night of the 16th (local time) to mark the opening of the ‘Art Winwood’ art fair in Miami, Florida, a female visitor kicked the transparent pedestal on which the balloon art was placed, causing the artwork to fall and shatter, according to CNN. reported on the 19th. This work is a blue ceramic work made in 2021 measuring 40 cm in height, 48 cm in length and 16 cm in width, and is valued at approximately $42,000 (55 million won). A total of 799 balloon dog sculptures have been created so far, including the broken ones.
At the time, as surprised employees rushed to the event, the woman blushed and repeatedly said, “I’m so sorry.” Bel Air Fine Art Gallery, which hosted the exhibition, said that it is currently reviewing whether to apply for insurance, but that some collectors have suggested that they would be willing to sell the broken works.
Koon’s animal sculptures are popular as expensive contemporary art pieces, and in 2013 another balloon dog piece sold for $58.4 million (75.657 billion won) at a Christie’s New York auction.
Reporter Kim Seong-eun
