Russian security guard vandalizes AU$1.3 M painting because he felt bored

CAIRO – 10 February 2022: One of the security personnel destroyed Anna Leporskaya’s distinctive painting displayed in an art gallery in Russia. 

Three Figures - Facebook/YeltsinCenter

The security guard tampered with the painting just because he was bored, as reported by foreign websites.

Anna Leporskaya’s artwork [Three Figures] was painted between 1932 and 1934, and was insured for 75 million rubles (AU$1.3 million, £740,000).

The painting was exhibited as part of an abstract art exhibition at the Boris Yeltsin Presidential Center in Yekaterinburg. The guard tampered with the painting using a ballpoint pen drawing eyes in two of the three faces, according to the Guardian.

Anna Reshetkina, curator of the exhibition, said that the painting was vandalized by a Yeltsin pen, which bears the mark of the Yeltsin Center. "His motives are still unknown but management believes that this was some kind of slip of mind," she added.

The Art Newspaper wrote, "The ink had penetrated so little into the layer of paint that the white titanium used to paint the faces was not covered with the author's varnish, as is often the case in abstract painting at the time. Fortunately, the vandal drew with a pen without strong pressure."

Experts believe the painting can be restored to its original form without long-term damage and they are working on it. They expect the restoration to cost around 2,50,000 Russian Rubles

It is worth noting that the security guard is now facing a vandalism charge, which comes with a fine of 40,000 Russian Rubles and a one-year correctional labour sentence.

Last week, police stated that it had started an investigation.