'Idiot' tourist sits on priceless chair decorated with Swarovski crystals, shatters it into pieces

Economic Times

a day ago

A tourist's reckless attempt to pose on Nicola Bolla's crystal-covered "Van Gogh" chair at an Italian museum resulted in its collapse. The museum condemned the act, highlighting the pair's deliberate avoidance of staff. Fortunately, the chair was successfully restored, sparking online discussions about museum security and visitor etiquette after the video went viral.
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A careless incident at an Italian museum recently drew widespread attention when a tourist caused serious damage to a fragile piece of contemporary art. The centerpiece in question was a chair intricately decorated with thousands of shimmering Swarovski crystals, designed by renowned Italian artist Nicola Bolla This chair, nicknamed the 'Van Gogh' chair for its resemblance to one depicted in one of the famed Dutch painter's artworks, was not just a visual marvel but a delicate symbol of artistic craftsmanship. Unfortunately, that delicate nature was completely disregarded during a poorly thought-out photo attempt.As reported by the New York Post, surveillance footage captured the moment when the man, accompanied by a woman, decided to sit fully on the ornamental chair rather than mimic the pose by hovering above it like his companion.This misguided choice proved disastrous. As he placed his full weight onto the fragile structure, the chair collapsed under him. In a clumsy scramble to stay upright, the man reached toward the nearby wall for support with both hands, failing to maintain balance. The crash startled onlookers, and the woman quickly stepped in to help him recover before both of them hurried out of the gallery.The museum was quick to condemn the behavior, expressing deep frustration over the tourists' blatant disregard for basic etiquette and appreciation for artistic heritage. They also revealed that the pair had timed their actions to avoid the watchful eyes of museum staff, deliberately waiting for security personnel to exit the room before making their move.Crafted entirely from crystals, the 'Van Gogh' chair was a particularly sensitive and vulnerable work, not intended for physical interaction. The artist's intention was to pay homage to Vincent van Gogh's creative vision through a modern medium, turning a traditional object into a gleaming piece of contemporary art. Its destruction, albeit temporary, was a blow to both the institution and the art world at large.However, the incident eventually took a positive turn. Within a few days, the museum announced that restoration efforts had been successful, and the chair was returned to its original, dazzling condition. The sigh of relief was palpable, especially given the emotional and monetary value of the piece.The episode sparked a lively conversation online, especially on Reddit's 'Mildly Infuriating' forum, where the video gained over 17,000 upvotes. Many users expressed disbelief that there was no staff present near such a fragile exhibit. While acknowledging the financial strains museums face, commenters were stunned that this predictable mishap wasn't better prevented.