To kill boredom, all of us do many things. But, recently, what a security guard did out of boredom is what people are finding difficult to wrap their heads around.
Recently, A ‘bored’ security guard from Russia allegedly ruined a $1 million (Rs 7.47 crore) painting on his first day at work. The 60-year-old security guard drew eyes with a ball pen on the faceless figures of the painting.
This is the original painting vs. what he did to the painting.
The Three Figures painting by Anna Leporskaya was recently on exhibit at the Yeltsin Center in Yekaterinburg, Russia. The Three Figures was painted between 1932 and 1934 and had been insured for 75m roubles (Rs 7.47 crore). As per reports, The damage to the painting has been estimated at RUB 250,000 (Rs 2,49,500).
The incident reportedly took place on December 7, 2021, when it was displayed in an exhibition called ‘The World as Non-Objectivity, The Birth of a New Art’. As per the sources, the security guard has been fired and the company where the security guard worked is paying for the restoration.
The Yeltsin Center said in a statement released: “We inform you that during the investigation, the person who painted the eyes on the figures in the painting by Anna Leporskaya was identified – this is an employee of a private security organization that carries out security activities of the Yeltsin Center. The damage was done with a ballpoint pen,”
It’s a relief to know that the State Tretyakov Gallery experts can undo the damage without any long-term damage to the artwork. The police have started an investigation for vandalism, which comes with a RUB-40,000 (Rs 39,900) fine and a one-year correctional labor sentence.
This is what many had to say on social media:
Just read the news about a $1 million painting ruined after a ‘bored’ security guard drew eyes on faceless figures.
— Dileep Mani (@DileepMani) February 10, 2022
I totally understand him. I got so ‘bored’ not knowing anything asked during an exam that I ended up doing something similar on my admit card. pic.twitter.com/yeu8SHsiD9
This is my FAVORITE story today on #Twitter. ‘…this is my first day OTJ as security…but heyyyyy…I’m BORED…so I’m just gonna draw some happy little eyes on this million-dollar painting…(in ink pen)…’ 😆😂🤣 https://t.co/s8SR0GV7J2
— OFFICIAL Critical Thinker 🧠 (@lakeinla) February 10, 2022
How to overcome boredom?
— Muzzammil KhanⓂ️ مزمل خان (@MohdMuzzammilK) February 10, 2022
Try becoming an artist! #MajnuBhai ✏ 🎨
⚡️ “$1million painting is ruined after ‘bored’ security guard draws eyes on faceless figures” by @MailOnline https://t.co/18RLHNiTFO @ssharadmohhan @ranjona @dr_rakhshinda @KumariRukshmani @IndiaArtHistory
He literally had one job; to safeguard the #painting.
$1MILLION painting is ruined after ‘bored’ security guard draws eyes on faceless figures. 🤦 🤦
More here: https://t.co/XamjmFHMMN
via @MailOnline pic.twitter.com/6wAmSRduUs— Pratibha P {Pratsmusings} (@Myepica) February 10, 2022
Loving this man’s work https://t.co/elha7Ijezq
— Anita Singh (@anitathetweeter) February 9, 2022
That painting defaced by a bored security guard using a ball point pen in middle of Russia is now more art than it was before
— vladislav krylov (@VladislavBM) February 9, 2022