The Tate Modern in London is putting Mark Rothko’s mural “Black on Maroon” back on display Tuesday, more than a year and a half after the work was defaced with black ink by an art blogger attempting to draw attention to an obscure artistic movement.
In October, 2012, Wlodzimierz Umaniec, a homeless Russian artist, stepped over a barrier at the London gallery and calmly wrote “A Potential Piece of Yellowism” in the bottom right-hand corner of the piece with dripping black ink, before signing the name “Vladimir Umanets.” The 1958 painting is thought to be worth anywhere between $8.5 million to $15 million. Umaniec later said he believed his vandalism had made the work more valuable and described “Yellowism,” a movement he helped found, to ABC News, calling it “neither art nor anti-art. It is a resignation of art.” Umaniec received a two-year jail sentence for his vandalism.
The gallery has spent the past 18 months restoring the painting, which was made with layers of oil, pigment, resin, egg and glue. The black ink had soaked through the layers to the work’s canvas in certain places. A Tate spokesman told the Telegraph that while the damage “will always remain under the surface of the work,” the painting is now considered to be in “a displayable condition.”
More Must-Reads From TIME
- Jane Fonda Champions Climate Action for Every Generation
- Biden’s Campaign Is In Trouble. Will the Turnaround Plan Work?
- Why We're Spending So Much Money Now
- The Financial Influencers Women Actually Want to Listen To
- Breaker Sunny Choi Is Heading to Paris
- Why TV Can’t Stop Making Silly Shows About Lady Journalists
- The Case for Wearing Shoes in the House
- Want Weekly Recs on What to Watch, Read, and More? Sign Up for Worth Your Time
Contact us at letters@time.com