A Belarusian artist, Alexeï Kuzmich, has sparked controversy in France after his artistic performance at Vincent Van Gogh's grave led to his arrest and impending expulsion from the country. The incident took place on July 29, the anniversary of Van Gogh's death, when Kuzmich, dressed in white and covered in a mixture of milk and flour, dug around the grave while proclaiming, 'Artist, it’s time to get up.' His performance, intended as a tribute to awaken art, was met with swift police action, resulting in a one-month prison sentence and a fine of €3,000. The Val-d'Oise prefecture confirmed that Kuzmich was in an irregular situation in France and is now facing expulsion proceedings.
This bizarre scene unfolded in the Auvers-sur-Oise cemetery, where Van Gogh spent his last days and ultimately died in 1890. Kuzmich's performance, dubbed 'Renaissance,' aimed to commemorate the artist's legacy but instead led to legal repercussions. The Belarusian artist had previously gained notoriety in 2021 for another provocative act in front of the Élysée, where he held a fake Molotov cocktail. As Kuzmich remains detained, the situation raises questions about the balance between artistic expression and legal boundaries in France.
