Kissing a Twombly: Veneration or Vandalism?
Rindy Sam claims that planting a luscious lipstick kiss on an all-white Cy Twombly painting was “an artistic act provoked by the power of art.” As her case goes to trial, the 30-year-old French artist will have to defend her swoon against a prosecution that wants her to pay a fine of 4500 euros (about $6,500) and take a class on good citizenship.
The unnamed 9′ x 6′ work was on view at the Collection Lambert Museum of Contemporary Art in Avignon as part of a traveling exhibition in July when Sam kissed it and was promptly taken into police custody.
From MSNBC via AP:
The painting is worth an estimated $2,830,000 and restorers have tried to remove the lipstick smudge from the bone-white canvas using nearly 30 products — to no avail.
“I didn’t think. When I kissed it, I thought the artist would have understood,” Sam told the court in the southern French city of Avignon, describing it as “an act of love.”
Lost in the fuss is the fact that the resulting smudge on the otherwise pristine white canvas is really quite beautiful. Perhaps Twombly himself (who has remained mum from his Italian home) would appreciate Sam’s crimson artistic contribution. Meanwhile, the Collection Lambert’s Web site features some less sympathetic reactions (in French).
The verdict is set to be delivered November 16.
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