Modern art mistaken for trash: French artwork saved from museum bin

A piece of modern art created by French artist Alexandre Lavet, resembling two beer cans, was accidentally discarded by a lift technician at the LAM Museum in Lisse, Netherlands.

The cans, meticulously hand-painted to appear like discarded beer cans, were part of Lavet’s artwork “All The Good Times We Spent Together,” displayed in the museum’s elevator.

Lift technician mistakes modern art for trash during shift in Dutch museum

While working at the museum, a temporary lift technician mistook the artwork for trash and disposed of it. The museum emphasized that the technician, new to the role, was simply doing his job and wasn’t familiar with the artwork’s significance.

Curator Elisah van den Bergh noticed the cans were missing and immediately launched a search. “We recovered them from the trash just in time, as the bags were about to be thrown away,” van den Bergh explained.

Modern art collection designed to challenge perceptions of everyday objects

The LAM Museum’s collection focuses on food and consumption, and Lavet’s artwork fits into this theme. Sietske van Zanten, the museum’s director, said, “Our art encourages visitors to see everyday objects in a new light. We place these pieces in unexpected locations to challenge visitors’ perceptions.”

Lavet’s artwork, though resembling simple beer cans, required extensive time and effort to create. Its placement in the elevator was meant to surprise visitors and prompt them to reconsider everyday items.

After the rescue, the cans were cleaned and placed on a plinth at the museum entrance. “We wanted to give them their moment,” added van den Bergh, noting that the museum always looks for ways to engage and surprise visitors. Despite the incident, the museum bears no ill will toward the technician.