How I threw away a work of art

Are your mosaics being removed or stolen?

Lately, I have been facing this issue. A large number of the pieces are removed, damaged or destroyed by individuals who seek to resell them. Given the type of tiles I use, to steal the work is impossible. These individuals by removing the mosaics destroy the piece and then have to buy ceramics to repair or recreate the work. They even try to add a patina to make it look vintage. They then try to sell these bad replicas! I have hard time believing that anyone would buy any unauthenticated mosaic tiles as people could simply go to home depot and do it by themselves …I can only hope that soon enough nobody will be tempted to buy or steal pieces in the streets and therefore that this nonsense and painful destruction will stop.

Also insightful:

Is it possible to own a Space Invader? How do people acquire one of your works?

The most economical solution is to buy tiles and to create your own at home. It is not a very difficult assembly work and it is possible to find similar types of tiles I use.The second solution is to purchase an "invasion kit". It is a ready-to-use limited edition of a Space Invader. They are produced at the studio and sold in the Space Shop. It is at the same time a conceptual and functional object. Finally, for people who wants a unique art piece, they can seek for an Alias, which is the exact replica of the unique work in the street. There is one and only Alias for any past or present works present in the streets. Every Alias comes with a signed certificate of authenticity. Art Collectors should contact Over The Influence for any available pieces.

9 years is a long time. I'm sure he's removed enough from the experience to be able to laugh about it.

Probably should add to that " and he destroyed it in a way that did not harm the reputation of the artist".

This was in France, which has some strong moral rights for artists, including a right to respect of the integrity of their work (droit au respect de l'intégrité de l'oeuvre) which prohibits modifications and mutilations to the work that could harm the reputation of the artist.

I also found something that suggested that in at least some countries the right to respect of the integrity of the work requires that before destroying a work you have to offer to let the artist take it back, but I don't know what countries that applies to.

Granted, if you twist my arm I can come up with grand statements about oeuvres and the conversation between the art and the environment in which it is embedded bla bla bla, but that's just a way to justify the inflated price for something which is just kinda neat and fun.

"Is it possible to own a Space Invader? How do people acquire one of your works? -> [...] Finally, for people who wants a unique art piece, they can seek for an Alias, which is the exact replica of the unique work in the street. There is one and only Alias for any past or present works present in the streets. Every Alias comes with a signed certificate of authenticity. Art Collectors should contact Over The Influence for any available pieces."

The second part - it's not a zero-sum game. Why can't both be "real" artists?

-> He does mind: "I can only hope that soon enough nobody will be tempted to buy or steal pieces in the streets and therefore that this nonsense and painful destruction will stop" - from http://www.space-invaders.com/about/

Contemporary art is simply "made by living artists, now" - and will inevitably be re-name with some -ism to help classify the common themes and styles.