Artist wants to apologise for smashing Ai Weiwei vase
A Florida artist who smashed a $1m vase by dissident Chinese artist Ai Weiwei in protest tells Channel 4 News he wants to apologise.
Maximo Caminero was charged with criminal mischief after the incident on Sunday, writes Matthew Moore.
He was expected to give a media conference today, but in a phone call with Channel 4 News he said his lawyer had advised him not to.
He said: “I would really like to apologise to Mr Weiwei for distrubing his peace, and for all the inconvenience I caused.
“I did not want to disturb the peace of Mr Weiwei’s peronal life. I admire the work of Mr Weiwei, I have nothing against him and I have no problem with him personally.”
Act of protest
Earlier he reportedly defended his actions, telling a local newspaper that he did it “for all the local artists in Miami that have never been shown in museums here”.
Jamne Finlayson, who runs a gallery which exhibits Mr Caminero’s work, said she was standing by him.
“I support him as an artist and respect his act of protest,” she told Channel 4 News over the phone.
She suggested Mr Caminero would find support among fellow artists in Miami, saying: “A lot of people feel the way Maximo does.”