Mark Rothko: Yellow on Black On Maroon

Gwenael P., Week 4

Two weeks ago at the Tate Modern a famous painting of Mark Rothko, titled « Black On Maroon », was damaged by an act of vandalism.

The author of the scandale, Vladimir Umanets, wrote with a black pen on the painting « Vladimir Umets, a potential piece of Yellownism ». He claimed his  graffiti is a manifesto of the art movement called « Yellownism » described as « not art or anti-art. Examples of Yellowism can look like works of art but are not works of art.”

For him, it’s not a way to give a new signification to the painting. Just to draw attention on his contemporary art movement and to increase the economic value of the painting.

The Tate Modern known for its high security level, had to close during one after-noon, and of course deplore the act of vandalism.

A visitor who saw the graffiti before the closure shot with his cell-phone the vandalised painting. Medias tried to buy the right to diffuse his picture in the newspaper, creating a frenzy about his photo.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/art/art-news/9592962/Rothko-painting-vandalised-in-Tate-Modern.html