This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-19866004

The article has changed 13 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 11 Version 12
Defacing Rothko painting 'not vandalism' Defacing Rothko painting 'not vandalism'
(about 2 months later)
A Russian man who claims responsibility for defacing a painting by Mark Rothko at the Tate Modern has told the BBC: "I'm not a vandal." A man who claims responsibility for defacing a painting by Mark Rothko at the Tate Modern has told the BBC: "I'm not a vandal."
The painting, Black on Maroon, one of Rothko's Seagram murals, was written on with black paint on Sunday.The painting, Black on Maroon, one of Rothko's Seagram murals, was written on with black paint on Sunday.
Vladimir Umanets, founder of a movement he calls Yellowism, claims to be responsible but denies criminal damage.Vladimir Umanets, founder of a movement he calls Yellowism, claims to be responsible but denies criminal damage.
Police are yet to arrest anyone in connection with the incident in the central London gallery.Police are yet to arrest anyone in connection with the incident in the central London gallery.
Works by the modernist US painter have sold for tens of millions of pounds.Works by the modernist US painter have sold for tens of millions of pounds.
Speaking to the BBC, Mr Umanets compared himself with the surrealist artist Marcel Duchamp.Speaking to the BBC, Mr Umanets compared himself with the surrealist artist Marcel Duchamp.
He said: "Art allows us to take what someone's done and put a new message on it."He said: "Art allows us to take what someone's done and put a new message on it."
The man allegedly responsible for defacing Rothko's painting cites Duchamp's appropriation of a urinal in the name of art (Fountain, 1917) as both a context and explanation for his actions.The man allegedly responsible for defacing Rothko's painting cites Duchamp's appropriation of a urinal in the name of art (Fountain, 1917) as both a context and explanation for his actions.
He probably also knew that Duchamp once doodled on a postcard depicting the Mona Lisa. That, like the urinal, became a work of art (although Duchamp had not intended it to be at the time).He probably also knew that Duchamp once doodled on a postcard depicting the Mona Lisa. That, like the urinal, became a work of art (although Duchamp had not intended it to be at the time).
Robert Rauschenberg and the Chapman Brothers are among many artists that subsequently followed the Frenchman's interventionist lead.Robert Rauschenberg and the Chapman Brothers are among many artists that subsequently followed the Frenchman's interventionist lead.
He said the most contemporary thing to do now was to "abandon and live art" and that he hoped he would "be considered as someone who really creates".He said the most contemporary thing to do now was to "abandon and live art" and that he hoped he would "be considered as someone who really creates".
However, he acknowledged he was likely to be arrested shortly.However, he acknowledged he was likely to be arrested shortly.
"I'm expecting this - I'm not interested in spending time in prison but if I have to... I have no lawyer, I don't have the money.""I'm expecting this - I'm not interested in spending time in prison but if I have to... I have no lawyer, I don't have the money."
He added that he was a big fan of Rothko.He added that he was a big fan of Rothko.
"Rothko is such a powerful artist. There will never be another Rothko in the world ever."Rothko is such a powerful artist. There will never be another Rothko in the world ever.
"I would like to show such a wonderful piece in the context of Yellowism.""I would like to show such a wonderful piece in the context of Yellowism."
After the incident, Tate Modern was shut for a short period.After the incident, Tate Modern was shut for a short period.
But a spokesperson for the gallery told BBC arts correspondent Will Gompertz that it would not change its policy of allowing people up close to the art.But a spokesperson for the gallery told BBC arts correspondent Will Gompertz that it would not change its policy of allowing people up close to the art.
'Quick exit''Quick exit'
On Twitter, eyewitness Tim Wright said: "This guy calmly walked up, took out a marker pen and tagged it. Surreal.On Twitter, eyewitness Tim Wright said: "This guy calmly walked up, took out a marker pen and tagged it. Surreal.
"We gave a description to the gallery. Very bizarre. He sat there for a while then just went for it and made a quick exit.""We gave a description to the gallery. Very bizarre. He sat there for a while then just went for it and made a quick exit."
Mr Wright later uploaded a picture to Twitter which showed five or six words on the bottom-right corner of the painting with black streaks of paint running down from the daubed writing.Mr Wright later uploaded a picture to Twitter which showed five or six words on the bottom-right corner of the painting with black streaks of paint running down from the daubed writing.
They appear to read: "Vladimir Umanets, A Potential Piece of Yellowism."They appear to read: "Vladimir Umanets, A Potential Piece of Yellowism."
A Tate spokeswoman said: "Tate can confirm that there was an incident in which a visitor defaced one of Rothko's Seagram murals by applying a small area of black paint with a brush to the painting."A Tate spokeswoman said: "Tate can confirm that there was an incident in which a visitor defaced one of Rothko's Seagram murals by applying a small area of black paint with a brush to the painting."
Conservator Julia Nagle said on Radio 4's Today programme that she had "every faith" the defaced painting could be restored.Conservator Julia Nagle said on Radio 4's Today programme that she had "every faith" the defaced painting could be restored.
"The first thing you need to know is what the painting was originally made of, in order to distinguish between the solubility of what you want to get rid of and the original painting."The first thing you need to know is what the painting was originally made of, in order to distinguish between the solubility of what you want to get rid of and the original painting.
"Fortunately, in the case of Rothko, there's a massive body of research into his techniques - and a great conservation department at Tate.""Fortunately, in the case of Rothko, there's a massive body of research into his techniques - and a great conservation department at Tate."
She added the graffiti would be "much more soluble because it is newer", meaning damage to the existing layers would be unlikely.She added the graffiti would be "much more soluble because it is newer", meaning damage to the existing layers would be unlikely.
Chief art critic at The Times Rachel Campbell-Johnston told the BBC it would be a shame if security was changed in the light of the Rothko event.Chief art critic at The Times Rachel Campbell-Johnston told the BBC it would be a shame if security was changed in the light of the Rothko event.
"I really, really feel it's important people feel they can have a one-to-one connection (with the artwork)," she said."I really, really feel it's important people feel they can have a one-to-one connection (with the artwork)," she said.
"If you up security, you destroy the connection people can get.""If you up security, you destroy the connection people can get."
She added: "Galleries have very good security, it's just a very sad thing someone had to do this but we can't have armed police in galleries."She added: "Galleries have very good security, it's just a very sad thing someone had to do this but we can't have armed police in galleries."
Russian-born Rothko emigrated to the US at the age of 10, and went on to become an important post-war abstract expressionist.Russian-born Rothko emigrated to the US at the age of 10, and went on to become an important post-war abstract expressionist.
He was commissioned to paint the Seagram murals in 1958 for Manhattan's Four Seasons restaurant, but they were never installed.He was commissioned to paint the Seagram murals in 1958 for Manhattan's Four Seasons restaurant, but they were never installed.
Shortly before his death in 1970, he presented some of the murals to the Tate Gallery.Shortly before his death in 1970, he presented some of the murals to the Tate Gallery.
In May, Rothko's Orange, red, yellow was sold for $86.9 million (£53.8m) when it went under the hammer at Christie's in New York.In May, Rothko's Orange, red, yellow was sold for $86.9 million (£53.8m) when it went under the hammer at Christie's in New York.