©SKULPTUR PROJEKTE 2017/HENNING ROGGE
This is starting to get worrisome. Today, officials at Skulptur Projekte Münster—who must have the patience of saints—shared news of the third unfortunate event to affect a work in their decennial public art show. Sometime last night, it seems, “technical equipment” related to Koki Tanaka’s work, a sound and video installation, was pilfered from the building at Johannisstraße 18/20 that houses it.
“As soon as new technology can be installed, the location will be reopened,” the organizers said in a statement released to press.
The burglary comes after the vandalism of Nicole Eisenman’s remarkable fountain as part of the show and the theft of an LED painting by Ei Arakawa, which has since been replaced.
Interestingly enough, the Tanaka piece loosely involves documentation of eight Münster residents taking part in a workshop concerned with the question of “how to live together.” (Here’s one idea: Don’t destroy public art.)
This is obviously dispiriting news, but perhaps some mischief is to be expected when a show draws an audience of hundreds of thousands. To look on the bright side of things: all press is good press, and it seems like the equipment can be readily replaced.
The Skulptur Projekte runs through October 1, and it is really a remarkably wonderful exhibition, not to be missed. Swing by if you’re able, but do not touch anything you are not supposed to touch, and most certainly do not steal something.
If you do see someone causing trouble, call the police!