Worthing artist jailed for Rothko vandalism

A man has been jailed for two years for defacing a painting by artist Mark Rothko.

Wlodzimierz Umaniec, 26, also known as Vladimir Umanets, defaced the mural, worth in the region of £5 million to £9 million, at London's Tate Modern gallery on October 7 this year.

Umaniec, a Polish national living in Worthing, West Sussex, admitted criminal damage to the value of in excess of £5,000 - but estimates suggest the restoration of the painting will cost around £200,000.

Judge Roger Chapple, at Inner London Crown Court, told Umaniec: "Your actions on the 7th of October of this year were entirely deliberate, planned and intentional."

The vandal, who co-founded the artistic movement "yellowism", stepped over a barrier in the art gallery and daubed his name and the words "12 a potential piece of yellowism" before fleeing.

The court heard he went to the gallery intending to put his "signature" on a picture, but decided to damage the Rothko painting only at the time he saw it on display.

The gallery was then put into "operation shutdown" with people prevented from leaving or entering the building.

Gregor McKinley, prosecuting, said work to restore the painting will take about 20 months and cost "something around £200,000".

Gareth Morgan, defending, said it would take a "significant amount of effort, expert effort at that" to restore the "important, valuable piece of art".

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Comments(7)

Daneboy1414 says...
1:16pm Thu 13 Dec 12

When he has finished his sentance kick him out the country and dont let him back in

Rocco10 says...
1:50pm Thu 13 Dec 12

And throw the rubbish painting out too.

BiggerH says...
2:33pm Thu 13 Dec 12

2 years !! Firm but harsh

Crystal Ball says...
2:33pm Thu 13 Dec 12

Clearly a criminal and not an "artist" at all.

John Steed says...
4:45pm Thu 13 Dec 12

£200.000 to restore the corner of a painting, far better leave it there, it doesnt detract from the work its self, and to do that would cost, Nothing.

Rocco10 says...
7:07pm Thu 13 Dec 12

I think it's worth more now that it has a story to tell, rather than being some random rubbish daubed by some Russian.

Sussex jim says...
7:35pm Thu 13 Dec 12

I hope similar punishment is handed out to those who graffiti buildings.

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