The work was so realistic, museum staff thought it was trash and threw it away.

The artwork titled All The Good Times We Spent Together by French artist Alexandre Lavet, at first glance, looks like two dented beer cans, according to AFP on October 7.

A closer look reveals that the two cans were in fact meticulously hand-painted with acrylic paint and “required a lot of time and effort to create,” according to the Lisser Art Museum “LAM” in Lisse, the Netherlands.

This photo taken on 19.7.2019 and released on 7.10.2024 shows the artwork “All The Good Times We Spent Together” at the Lisser Art Museum “LAM” in Lisse in the Netherlands

However, a museum cleaner failed to recognize the artistic value of the work when he saw two cans displayed in the elevator and threw them in the trash.

Froukje Budding, a spokeswoman for the Lisser Art Museum “LAM” in Lisse in the western Netherlands, told AFP that artworks are often kept in unusual places, hence the display in the elevator. “We always try to surprise our visitors,” Budding said.

Elisah van den Bergh, curator of exhibitions at the museum, returned after a short break and noticed the cans were missing. She retrieved them from a garbage bag just as it was about to be thrown away.

“We have now placed the piece in a more traditional place, on a display pedestal, so it can rest after its adventure,” said Ms Budding.

Ms Budding stressed there were “no hard feelings” towards the cleaner, who had just started working at the museum. “He was just doing his job,” Ms Budding explained.

Museum director Sietske van Zanten said: "Our art encourages visitors to look at everyday objects from a new perspective."

“By displaying artworks in unexpected places, we enhance the experience and keep visitors on their toes,” adds Ms. Van Zanten.

“With that in mind, the cans are unlikely to last long on their traditional pedestals. We need to think carefully about where to put them next,” Ms Budding said.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tac-pham-qua-thuc-nhan-vien-bao-tang-tuong-rac-dem-vut-185241008134826102.htm