Art Hits The Floor

When the Pompidou Art Centre in Paris launched a celebration of the work of Los Angeles artists, it intended to strengthen its links with American galleries. But "Los Angeles 1955-1985" has ended up doing more harm than good. In three incidents, the museum has ruined two works of art and damaged a third, provoking fury from the artists and incredulity from art experts who have been left wondering whether a major modern art gallery has ever caused so much damage in one exhibition. The incidents all involved original works accidentally falling from the museum's walls. One untitled piece - a black resin bar measuring 8ft by 5in - fell to the ground and smashed the night before the exhibition opened. The Pompidou Art Centre expressed apologies. "We are guardians of works of art and we deeply regret the incidents," its communications director said. "It is unheard of for us. These were fragile works of art. They were hung according to instructions. We can only assume that the works were created with experimental materials." For the full story - click the title Irish Art