Anna Leporskaya, Three Figures (disfigured), 1932–34. Tretyakov Gallery (Moscow)
A security officer who was jailed last December for sketching eyeballs on a mural of faceless creatures at the Yeltsin Center in Yekaterinburg spoke about the vandalism in an interview with Russian news site E1. Aleksandr Vasiliev, a decorated veteran of the Afghan and Chechen conflicts, told journalist Elena Pankratieva that he thought Anna Leporskaya's 20th-century painting was a "children's sketch," and that he was prompted to deface it by youngsters. "What have I done, I'm a fool," the 63-year-old told Pankratieva.
The vandalism had been reported since December, but it wasn't until this month, when the story was picked up by newspapers, that it was derided on social media as a hilariously terrible first day on the job. Vasiliev's retelling, on the other hand, was less amusing: he appeared visibly distressed as he described how fellow veterans helped him get the job at Yeltsin Centre despite his serious injuries. During the First Chechen War, which lasted from 1994 to 1996, he had gunshot wounds all over his body, as well as injuries to his brain and lungs. For his bravery, he was honored with a medal. His "psychological and emotional health" was permanently harmed, according to E1, despite the fact that he found work as a security guard for several businesses over the years. His personal life had been tumultuous as well: his wife and only son had both passed away. He was concerned that working at the Yeltsin Center would be too psychologically and physically taxing for him.
"At first, I wanted to reject because I was scared that I wouldn't be able to stand all day without being able to sit down," he explained, referring to his leg injury. "However, they promised me that if I worked one shift, they would pay me immediately away." "I had to go to work."
Anna Leporskaya, Three Figures , 1932–34. Tretyakov Gallery (Moscow)
The gallery had recently inaugurated an abstract art exhibition, which included a work by Anna Leporskaya on loan from Moscow's State Tretyakov Gallery. "To be honest, I didn't really like these works," Vasiliev expressed his dissatisfaction with the show. They made a negative impact." "I saw how people were reacting, and saw that 16-17-year-old students are standing, talking why there are no eyes, no mouth, no beauty!" Vasiliev said of the damage. 'Draw eyes, you work here,' they said to one of the girls in the group. 'Are they your works?' I inquired. 'Yes,' they said. They presented me with a pen. I drew the pupils of the eyes. I assumed it was just a collection of their childhood artwork!"
Three Figures was painted by Leporskaya between 1932 and 1934, and it was insured for 75 million roubles ($1.4 million) before the damage. Since then, the painting has been sent to the State Tretyakov for a fast restoration that would cost 250,000 roubles ($4,600). Meanwhile, the remaining artworks on exhibit at the Yeltsin Center have been protected by protective screens. Two visitors observed the graffiti and contacted a gallery employee on December 7, and the vandalism was initially reported on December 7. The Yeltsin Center filed a police report, but the ministry of internal affairs in Yekaterinburg first declined to bring charges against Vasiliev because the damage was deemed "insignificant."
Vasiliev has subsequently been charged with criminal vandalism and faces a fine equal to the amount the painting was insured for, and up to one year of correctional labor or up to three months of prison time, according to the Guardian. According to the E1 report, security camera footage did not show the teens who reportedly encouraged the destruction. Vasiliev’s second wife told E1 that Vasiliev is “absolutely normal in daily life,” but in other aspects was “naive as a child.”
Selena Mattei