Main image via @Backstage/Facebook
Growing up, many of us were taught how to see things but not touch them, especially if the object was priceless or breakable. It seems however, many people have forgotten this important lesson.
via GIPHY
If you’re visiting a museum, an exhibition or even an art gallery, you’ll notice all the barriers in place to prohibit the exhibits from being touched or mishandled. There are actually signs that clearly tell visitors to “do not touch” the displays.
It seems however that many people, who have been visiting the National Art Gallery (NAG) lately, have been ignoring the signs and simply misbehaving in the gallery.
When the Leonardo Opera Omnia exhibition made its way to the NAG, a huge number of people flocked to see the many artworks of Leonardo Da Vinci, especially the Mona Lisa.
Unfortunately, visitors of the gallery were at their worst behaviours.
Image via @Backstage/Facebook
The Bakat Muda Sezama (Young Contemporaries) award show is currently on display and exhibits submissions by participating artists.
According to Star 2, an installation piece has already been broken by a visitor who strived to get that Instagram-worthy picture, clearly ignoring the barriers placed around the artwork.
Mesita Jee Mei-Jane’s installation, Meeting I, which consists of a rock tied with rope that’s suspended over a mirror placed on the floor has been broken with the mirror clearly shattered by irresponsible visitors who climbed on top to pose for pictures.
Some other visitors have also stolen thumbdrives from two video installations! The Star also reported that a couple of industrial MDF boards that were used in an artwork had collapsed when it was pushed about by visitors.
A visitor was also seen “climbing” the ladder in Samsudin Wahab’s Bakat Muda Sezaman-winning work, Rambu-Rambu Memori. Another visitor also took off one of the framed works in Ho Mei Kei’s Pengenalan Diri, so that she could take a picture of herself with the artwork.
Image via @Backstage/Facebook
Visitors are also seen sitting on sculptures and squeezing their way into the middle of an artwork of a cluster of stand fans to get their “standing ovation from fans”.
“I saw an uncle touching an oil on canvas work,” said a social media user. “After he walked away, a group of teenagers came to take a photo with the painting. One girl’s buttocks touched the painting, but she ignored me when I told her to take a step away from the work.”
Image via @Backstage/Facebook
In case it isn’t clear enough, please DO NOT touch the artwork unless it has been specifically stated as an interactive piece.
If you’re visiting the National Art Gallery or any type of museum, please have some respect for the artwork and the artist.
Share this with everyone you know so this doesn’t continue to happen.
Info via Star 2