In a quirky twist of fate, the Lisser Art Museum (LAM) found itself in a modern-day “treasure or trash” dilemma when a museum lift technician mistook a celebrated piece of art for, well, litter!
Picture this: you’re strolling through an art exhibit, and two beer cans catch your eye. Do you see an artistic homage, or just someone’s forgotten refreshments? For one Dutch museum worker, the answer was clear – and it landed Alexandre Lavet’s piece in the trash!
The artwork, cleverly disguised as a pair of empty beer cans, was not a careless visitor’s oversight but a meticulously crafted homage to conviviality. Lavet, a French artist with a knack for turning the mundane into masterpieces, created the piece in the 1980s. Titled “All The Good Times We Spent Together,” the cans were meant to evoke memories of lively gatherings and creative spaces.
This nearly-discarded gem was unexpectedly liberated from its glass lift perch by the unsuspecting technician who assumed they were simply leftover litter from a particularly unruly art enthusiast. The cans, however, were more than meets the eye, embodying a tribute to the vibrant streets of Brussels and the bustling atmospheres of artists’ studios and gallery openings.
The museum curator, Elisah van den Bergh, was quick to notice the absence of Lavet’s work, prompting a frantic search that ended just in time. Found nestled inside a trash bag on the brink of being hauled away, the artwork was promptly rescued, wiped clean, and granted a prime spot at the museum entrance to celebrate its unexpected adventure.
Despite the mix-up, there are no hard feelings. “He was just doing his job,” the museum stated, affirming that the technician acted in good faith. Sietske van Zanten, LAM’s director, humorously noted that the incident underscores Lavet’s skill. “It truly speaks to the power of his work,” she said, highlighting how the museum’s collection challenges viewers to reimagine the everyday.
With its mission to spark surprise and reframe ordinary objects, LAM certainly succeeded – and Lavet’s beer cans have never had such an exciting story to tell. Cheers to art that’s saving itself from the recycling bin, one can at a time!
