Tourists damage crystal-covered chair in Italian museum by sitting on it

In a recent incident at the Palazzo Maffei museum in Verona, Italy, two tourists caused potential damage to a delicate artwork while attempting to take photographs. The artwork in question is a chair named 'Van Gogh’s Chair', crafted by artist Nicola Bolla and adorned with Swarovski crystals. Video footage captured the tourists as they posed for pictures, with the woman carefully squatting beside the chair, while the man made the reckless decision to sit on it. This resulted in the chair buckling under his weight, leading to a moment of chaos as he stumbled backward. The footage of this mishap quickly spread across social media, leading the museum to label the incident as “every museum’s nightmare.” In response to the event, the museum has contacted local authorities to report the incident, although they have not disclosed the exact timing of the police report.

Despite the damage caused, the chair has since been repaired, and Nicola Bolla has commented on the situation, expressing his disapproval of the tourists' actions while also finding a silver lining. He described the incident as somewhat performative and suggested that it highlights how art can engage the public in unexpected ways. The museum's social media account confirmed that the incident occurred within the last month and emphasized the fragility of the artwork, reminding visitors of the importance of respecting art installations. This event serves as a cautionary tale about the responsibility that comes with interacting with art and the potential consequences of careless behavior in cultural spaces.