The mechanic's mix‑up tosses priceless museum artwork into the trash
1:41 PM EDT, October 9, 2024
A bizarre situation unfolded in the Netherlands. A mechanic working at the LAM Museum in Lisse mistakenly threw away a priceless exhibit, thinking it was a beer can. As it turned out, it was not alcohol waste but the artwork "All The Good Times We Spent Together." Fortunately, the exhibit was successfully recovered.
The Guardian reports on the surprising incident. A mechanic at the LAM Museum in Lisse, Netherlands, noticed a "beer can" in the elevator and decided to clean up. Believing it to be trash left by a visitor, he threw the "can" away.
It was later discovered that this item was an important exhibit for the entire LAM Museum. How did the mistake occur? The artwork called "All The Good Times We Spent Together" resembles a crushed alcohol can.
The artwork has been recovered and returned to the exhibit
The museum authorities quickly realized that the priceless piece of art was missing. The exhibit's curator, Elisah van den Bergh, initiated a coordinated search, which proved successful. She retrieved the installation at the last moment from the trash bag just before it was about to be taken to the landfill.
The LAM Museum spokeswoman, Froukje Budding, stated that the museum holds no hard feelings toward the mechanic. He will face no consequences. The authorities recognized that the man had just started his job and was diligently performing his duties.
The spokeswoman added that the museum aims to surprise visitors by placing installations in unusual locations. For this reason, "All The Good Times We Spent Together" was placed in the elevator.
Meanwhile, LAM Museum director Sietske van Zanten believes that this approach helps visitors see everyday objects in a new light.
By displaying artworks in unexpected places, we amplify this experience and keep visitors on their toes, she said.
