A Florida artist is accepting responsibilty for turning a work by Ai Weiwei into a vessel for his frustration.
Maximo Caminero on Wednesday entered a plea of guilty to a charge of criminal mischief for smashing a colored vased by the dissident Chinese artist that formed part of an exhibit at Miami’s Perez Art Museum.
Under the terms of the deal, Caminero, 51, agreed to 18 months’ probation, payment of $10,000 restitution to a company that insured the vase, and 100 hours of community service at area art programs.
Caminero also issued a letter of apology, according to the Associated Press, which first reported the plea. In the missive, Caminero says he was protesting what he thought was a dearth of support by the museum for local artists. However, Caminero now says that he was wrong.
Under Florida law, criminal mischief, which entails the willful and malicious destruction of the property of another, is a felony in the third degree and carries a prison term up to five years.
The vase that Caminero destroyed, one of 16 in an installation of Ai’s work, reportedly was valued at $1 million.
Ai, who famously smashed an urn from the Han dynasty, told the South China Morning Post that shattering a piece of art is only acceptable if you own it.