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Volunteer's Cleaning Blunder Destroys Decades-Old Artwork
9 Nov
Summary
- Volunteer at Keelung Museum damaged 40-year-old artwork by cleaning it with toilet paper
- Artwork featured a dust-covered mirror on a wooden board, symbolizing cultural consciousness
- Museum apologized to artist and is discussing potential compensation
On November 9th, 2025, a volunteer at the Keelung Museum of Art in Taiwan made a costly mistake that resulted in the destruction of a valuable artwork. The piece, titled "Inverted Syntax-16," was created by artist Chen Sung-chih and featured a dust-covered mirror mounted on a simple wooden board, symbolizing the cultural consciousness of the middle class.
Tragically, the volunteer, thinking the mirror was dirty, decided to clean it using toilet paper. This action caused irreparable damage, as the volunteer wiped away 40 years of accumulated dust, effectively destroying the artwork. The museum's management has since apologized to the artist and is discussing potential compensation for the loss.
The "Inverted Syntax-16" piece was part of the "We Are Me" exhibition, which showcased works created from everyday objects and building materials. Some critics have even argued that the accidental cleaning has become part of the artwork and should be left as is, but the museum's priority is to address the damage and find a suitable resolution with the artist.
