A museum has apologised after telling a child to stop drawing while visiting an art exhibition.
The Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts reportedly told a child who was sketching a Pablo Picasso painting on a tablet to stop ‘copying’ the art work.
A muesumgoer nicknamed Mickeyelk Gesner posted on Facebook: ‘The staff told us, “Only taking photos is allowed. No copying. This is a rule”.’
A physician Lee Chia-yan said on Facebook she saw the incident and said it was ‘totally at odds with the common practice of the world’s leading art museums’.
She said: ‘Arts museums should not be haughty and condescending to visitors. It is not a place for adults to be arty and phony, but rather a place pleasantly accessible to people, especially to children.’
The museum apologised and said they would improve staff training, Taipei Times reports.
They confirmed visitors are allowed to sketch the artwork.
Takao Gooday, who regularly visits the museum, commented: ‘The entire incident indicates that the Kaohsiung Museum of Fine Arts, being a hub of arts in southern Taiwan with a 30-year history, has a disappointing attitude toward arts education and promotion.
Literary and historical expert Wei Tsong-jou added: ‘Copying” and “freehand drawing” are two different things when it comes to visitors drawing to mimic a painting.
‘One would have to file an application to ‘copy’ painting exhibits and undergo a review afterwards.
‘”Free drawing” does not require any application and is considered a way of appreciating artworks in terms of museum education.’
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