A daring art heist took place at the Pinakothek der Moderne in Munich, but with a twist – the thief was actually an employee of the museum. The 51-year-old technician took matters into his own hands and hung his own painting among the museum’s modern art collection while it was closed to the public.
The museum only discovered the unauthorized addition when the painting was noticed hanging on the wall. The employee, whose artistic background remains a mystery, was promptly let go from his position and banned from returning to the museum.
To make matters worse for the aspiring artist, the police are now investigating him for property damage for drilling holes in the museum wall to hang his painting. The Pinakothek der Moderne, known for its extensive art collection, including works by Max Beckmann and Pablo Picasso, has since removed the painting and is dealing with the aftermath of the incident.
This incident comes on the heels of a similar discovery at a museum in Bonn, where an artist hung their own artwork in an exhibition on identity and immigration. Unlike the Munich case, the Bundeskunsthalle in Bonn helped sell the painting and donated the proceeds to charity.
It seems that sometimes, in the competitive world of art, getting your work displayed in a prestigious museum may require more than just talent – it may also require a bit of creativity and risk-taking.
