Student falls through artwork in Antwerp museum: “He didn’t do it deliberately”

A 13-year-old student from an Antwerp school damaged a work of art in the MuHKA in Antwerp. The student thought he had a better view from a ‘step’, but fell through. “We are insured for this,” the museum responds.

Since January 20, the Museum of Contemporary Art in Antwerp South has been hosting a mini exhibition with work by the West Flemish artist Willy De Sauter. One of the works – untitled – is an accumulation 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 staircase of two steps. A 13-year-old student from an Antwerp school, on a cultural excursion with his class, actually thought it was a staircase from which he could better view the rest of the work. But the material wasn’t strong enough and he fell through.

Willy De Sauter (85) was not there himself. “Was it intentional 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 is by far the easiest to glue the pieces and re-fill the material afterwards. I hope I can make it whole again.”

The exhibition runs until May 5. The installation can still be viewed in the museum – for the time being without the damaged part.

“The student did not deliberately damage the work of art,” says Bert De Vlegelaer of the MuHKA, who did not wish to comment on the financial value of the work of art. “He should therefore not have to pay for the costs. Such accidents happen occasionally and we are insured for them. We have informed the school, the parents and the artist and we will handle this internally and without drama.”