Originally published on February 18, 2014
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A Miami artist was arrested on Sunday (February 16) after breaking a $1 million vase by Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei displayed at Miami's Perez Art Museum (PPAM).
The suspect is Dominican Republic-born painter Maximo Caminero, 51, who lives and works in Miami and whose paintings have been exhibited locally and abroad.
According to the Miami Herald, Caminero entered the PPAM on Sunday and picked up one of the 16 vases in display by Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei.
Museum security guard Ciara Foster asked him to put the vase down but instead he tossed it on the floor.
Caminero was arrested and charged with criminal mischief. He told police that his action was a spontaneous act of protest, partially inspired by Ai himself.
"I was at PAMM and saw Ai Weiwei's photos behind the vases where he drops an ancient Chinese vase and breaks it," he told the Miami New Times. "And I saw it as a provocation by Weiwei to join him in an act of performance protest."
Caminero broke the vase to protest against the choice of the museum to only display international artists.
"I did it for all the local artists in Miami that have never been shown in museums here," he was quoted by the Miami New Times as saying. "They have spent so many millions now on international artists. It's the same political situation over and over again. I've been here for 30 years and it's always the same," he said.
Caminero said that he did not realize how valuable the vase was. According to Reuters, the 16 vases dripped by Ai in bright paint are about 2,000 years old, dating back to China's Han Dynasty.
The display, titled Colored Vases, is part of Ai's exhibition According to What, which opened in late 2013, along with the museum which was inaugurated in December.
Caminero, who could now face up to five years in prison, was released and plans to hold a press conference on Tuesday in his art studio in Miami to explain his actions.
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