Stealable Art Exhibition

"[10] The title of the work, inscribed on a false credit card, suggests that it is about resisting the temptation to steal under the gaze of God and the Mother.

It is a simple black-and-white sketch of Mona Lisa, and it offers visitors the experience of stealing that famous painting.

This cloth artwork has a deliberately cut line at the border and scissors on the floor directly below to allow multiple visitors to share the work.

[7] The announcement generated a huge response,[3] especially on social networking sites, which became a lot of fun,[3] with people asking for advice on how to steal.

[8] Hasegawa sensed a strong response from the inquiries he received, and in a prior interview, he stated that "the desire for cultural events (due to the voluntary curfew) seems to be growing,"[7] and that he expected "all the works to be stolen in an hour or two.

While paying attention to ventilation and admission restrictions, concerned parties and families with children viewed the works that were about to be stolen.

[15] A few "thieves" began to gather here and there in front of the venue, having heard about the event through social networking sites.

[2] The crowd was chatting and laughing as they waited for the doors to open, all looking forward to the free distribution of rare items.

[3] As the opening time approached, the crowd in the narrow street in front of the venue swelled to about 200 people.

[3] Police used guide lights to direct traffic on the heavily congested surrounding streets starting around 11:30 p.m.[3] The venue was located in the middle of a residential area, so the late-night hustle and bustle had to be avoided.

The place became more crowded than expected and dangerous,[15] so Hasegawa decided to move up the opening time by 20 minutes before any more people gathered.

[2] In the confusion that followed, a certain degree of moderation was evident among the visitors, as some lost items were delivered and others asked for the return of equipment that they had mistakenly brought home with them.

"[1] Some social networking site users commented that the whole event, from the commotion at the venue to the subsequent Mercalli sale festival, was like an art performance.

[17][18] Some also pointed out the lack of foresight on the day of the event, saying that it was actually a nuisance to the neighbors and that it was more a matter of morals and courtesy than art.