Museum Worker Throws Art in the Trash by Mistake
Artist Alexandre Lavet's aluminum replicas of beer cans at the LAM Museum in Lisse were a little too realistic.
A technician working at the LAM Museum in the Dutch town of Lisse didn't realize he was throwing away an artwork when he discarded a pair of what appeared to be empty beer cans left in the elevator shaft. The pieces in question, created by French artist Alexandre Lavet, were thankfully recovered from the garbage bag moments before they were gone forever.
Lavet's sculptures, titled "All the good times we spent together" (2017), are acrylic-painted aluminum replicas of Jupiler beer cans that symbolize cherished memories with friends. The cans were placed on top of the glass elevator car, so museum visitors could either see them through the transparent ceiling or look from the surrounding aisles around the elevator shaft.
The technician, a substitute covering for the museum's regular elevator maintenance man attuned to the unconventional exhibition spaces onsite, figured that the cans were left behind by construction workers or visitors and discarded them as such. Upon noticing their absence, museum Curator Elisah van den Bergh quickly discovered them in a bin bag with some swept-up litter before the garbage was taken off the premises.
The museum clarified that it "bears no ill will" towards the substitute technician who made the mistake, with museum Director Sietske van Zanten noting that he "was just doing his job in good faith.”
“In a way, it’s a testament to the effectiveness of Alexandre Lavet’s art,” van Zanten said in a statement shared with Hyperallergic.
The LAM Museum is a contemporary art institution whose collection is devoted to food- and drink-related artworks. The space also takes pride in its unconventional curatorial approach, placing displays in unusual areas throughout the building rather than confining artwork to plinths and walls.
“Our art encourages visitors to see everyday objects in a new light," van Zanten said. "By displaying artworks in unexpected places, we amplify this experience and keep visitors on their toes.”
The artwork was cleaned and has been put back on display on a pedestal at the front of the museum, but it will soon be moved again to another surprising location in the space.
